Oto cat behavior

[Pepe]

Has anyone noticed their oto cats seem to like currents? I noticed that sometimes my oto will settle on the glass opposite the filter in the current. So, one time when I was refilling after a water change with a siphon, I pointed the end of the siphon at the otto. Instead of swimming away, it turned to face the the stream and sucked down onto the heater (oriented horizontally at the back of the tank). So, I kept doing it and the response was always the same. Some of the white clouds will try to swim "upstream" in response to being hosed with the siphon.

I did a brief amount of research but, could not find whether or not they are native to streams (which might explain the behavior). White clouds are though. I also thought that the stream of "new" water may be more highly oxygenated and/or just move water over the fish's gills with minimal effort from them.

Anyway, if you have oto cats give it a try.

c

 

[pl*co]

I never noticed because I run the water from the hose through my fingers to minimize disturbance of the tank bottom. The little oto is not usually within site since my hand is partially in the tank. It's only a 3 gallon, so I bet he hides out.

 

[ct-death]

I have noticed that my Oto's (all 5 of them) like to latch onto the glass where the current is strong enough to almost bend their little tails at 90 degree angle...

Aside from this, I have not see anything particular to just them.

 

[Swayde]

I did read somewhere that they do enjoy currents. I know mine seem to really enjoy swimming thru the current and hanging onto the glass so their tails get pushed up as well. I think it looks neat =) My Otos and Danios both like to swim around in the fresh water I pour in from water changes. I used a bucket to pour the water in and sometimes I play with them with a turkey baster...I push water and air onto them and they seem to love it.

 

[BrkD]

my otos seems to like strong current. they attach themselves onto the leaves right beneath the water fall created by my hob filter

 

[band_width_band]

smoetimes mine like to "surf" the bubbles form the airstone...

 

[nickmcmechan]

they are native to strong flowing streams and evolution has developed the suckermoouth for not getting taken away by current as much as it has for algae eating.....

I'll try and look out the website I found that out on...

 

[gvildawg]

Nick is dead-on. Otos live in fast-moving streams in nature and love high current and high oxygenation.

 

[Becca3711]

My albino corys loooove the current from my HOB filter. However, my julli corys don't.