Skittish Otto's

[DGalt]

So about 2 months ago I bought 4 ottos with the intention of replacing the pleco's in my tank. However, 2 died within a week, not really sure what was wrong with them. The other two are still alive and doing fine and I have them in another tank.

However, they seem extremely skittish. The only time I see them is when they dart from one side of the tank to the other. I know they should be in larger groups than 2 (hence the reason i started with 4), but when I originally had them I never saw them swimming around together.

Is this skittishness typical for ottos or is it because there is only 2 of them?

tank is a 10 gallon. other inhabitants are some neons and a snail.

 

[SubluxT7]

You tank isn't really big enough to support Oto's. They need to be in groups of 6 or more. Maybe it's odd but mine are not skittish at all. They readily hang out in the front of the tank and play with each other by chasing each other around in circles. Oto's, in general, are pretty difficult to keep. Most of the time, when you get them from pet stores, they are pretty stressed and I would estimate up to half die within the first 2 months of keeping them. Good luck. I would suggest perhaps keeping just the neons and snails (1 or 2 mysterys would clean your tank pretty effectively).

 

[nguyendetecting]

I have 4 otos in my 12 gallon and they love playing out in front of the tank under the current. But yes when I do walk up to the tank they do sometimes freak out and dart across the tank. After I sit down for a second they come back and play again. I think it's normal behavoir to get "spooked" by people. I don't think a 10 is too small but Sub is right that they would be happier in a larger tank with more otos added. I'm upgrading mine to a 20 today. They also need a good amount of cover in the form of plants and things. I did notice a the other day when I upgraded the lighting, they don't like the bright lights very much and now don't play in the current unless the tank light is off.

 

[jackiomy]

My Otos think that they are Cories. My albino cories are always zipping up and down the front of the tank and the Otos join them and then my peppered cories and pretty soon they are all chasing and playing with each other. To be honest, I think that my albinos have something a litte different in mind right now (if you know what I mean )but the others just look like they are having a great time knocking the snails off the glass. I throw algae wafers in there once in a while and in the morning everything is gone so I guess everyone is eating well, they are pretty pudgey. I was almost late for work this morning because I love to pull up a footstool and sit and watch them and then lose track of time. LOL

 

[excuzzzeme]

I have 2 otos in a planted 10 and they just hang out on the front glass most of the time. They seem oblivious to everything around them. They are nosy when I stick the gravel vac in there and have to keep chasing them away from it. I have 2 more in a 20 long that seem to be a bit more timid. Sometimes I won't see them for a week and then all of a sudden they are back. I always check to see if they are getting enough to eat and the little bellies look to be nicely rounded.

I still toss in an algae wafer every now and then.

Yes, by the time you buy them from a store they are starved and weak. Because they are sensitive and starved, loss is almost always going to happen. It is usually not the fault of the purchaser. 2 in a 10 is fine as long as you supplement their diet.