Hi, This past Wed., June 6, I purchased 4 Otocinclus and put them in a quarantine tank with plants. The last two days I've noticed spawning rituals and now have eggs on plants leaves and on the tank walls.
I had read they can hatch in two to five days.
Please advise on what I can do to help the eggs and newborn survive.
Ten gallon tank-completely and previously cycled
Temp. 78.3
Ph. 7.6
Nitrates 5
No ammonia or nitrites
Very large red crypt and Wisteria brances in tank.
Otocinclus laying eggs! 6/16-6/17 eggs --- !!! 6/19 FRY !!!
Otocinclus laying eggs! 6/16-6/17 eggs --- !!! 6/19 FRY !!!
Last edited by comet on 19 Jun 2007, 17:24, edited 4 times in total.
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Bas Pels
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Otocinclus breed just as Corydoras, as you hvave seen, and don't protect the eggs / fry.
However, as they are much more herbivorous as corydoras, they will not eat so much of the eggs. Still remouving the parents or eggs would be the safe option (I'd remouve the parents, not the eggs, if possible, the eggs may not be as hardy as Corydoras).
Raising them: the fish eat algae, and will, most likely, prefer clean water.
However, as they are much more herbivorous as corydoras, they will not eat so much of the eggs. Still remouving the parents or eggs would be the safe option (I'd remouve the parents, not the eggs, if possible, the eggs may not be as hardy as Corydoras).
Raising them: the fish eat algae, and will, most likely, prefer clean water.
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apistomaster
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Bas Pels, Thank you for your response. The parents are in a quarantine tank, as they were recently purchased, and I do not have another tank to move them into. They have cleaned up most of any algae in the tank already and now I am supplementing with blanched zucchini and algae wafer.
Today, I did notice that some of the eggs are covered with algae so I don't expect them to hatch.
I may move some of the eggs into a small heated and aerated container to see what happens.
The only thing I have on hand for food for them is Hikari's First Bite, a powdered food for fry. I will also try to dissolve some algae wafers and see if that works should any eggs hatch.
Thanks again for your advice.
Today, I did notice that some of the eggs are covered with algae so I don't expect them to hatch.
I may move some of the eggs into a small heated and aerated container to see what happens.
The only thing I have on hand for food for them is Hikari's First Bite, a powdered food for fry. I will also try to dissolve some algae wafers and see if that works should any eggs hatch.
Thanks again for your advice.
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bronzefry
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pleco_breeder
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Hello,
You're in for a wild ride if any of the eggs hatch. I've tried otto's a few times and, as apistomaster stated, their spawning is sporadic at best. They seem to need a bit of extra conditioning time, even beyond the point they plump up, and a well planted tank.
It's probably too late by now, but worth a shot. My best success raising fry has been in a planted tank and feeding greenwater. I intentionally seed my planted tanks with copepods and moina when raising them. I've tried tanks without the critters, but never more than a couple survive. I assume that they are eating algae and critters that managed to sneak into the tank on the plants. My most recent, and most successful, attempt was with O. flexilis in a 10 gallon tank that had been running for 2 months. The tank was 3/4 full, could barely see into it, of java moss and loads of critters. Once I saw eggs, I pulled the breeders as I saw them on the front glass. I couldn't find 2 of them till the fry were well over 1 cm, so I doubt they are predatory as there were still over 100 fry that survived. The amount of live foods may have had something to do with that as well.
My advice, get green water started and cross all your fingers, toes, and eyes. Then a bit of prayer. You may be able to keep them alive long enough for the green water to cycle by feeding microworms or bbs.
Larry Vires
You're in for a wild ride if any of the eggs hatch. I've tried otto's a few times and, as apistomaster stated, their spawning is sporadic at best. They seem to need a bit of extra conditioning time, even beyond the point they plump up, and a well planted tank.
It's probably too late by now, but worth a shot. My best success raising fry has been in a planted tank and feeding greenwater. I intentionally seed my planted tanks with copepods and moina when raising them. I've tried tanks without the critters, but never more than a couple survive. I assume that they are eating algae and critters that managed to sneak into the tank on the plants. My most recent, and most successful, attempt was with O. flexilis in a 10 gallon tank that had been running for 2 months. The tank was 3/4 full, could barely see into it, of java moss and loads of critters. Once I saw eggs, I pulled the breeders as I saw them on the front glass. I couldn't find 2 of them till the fry were well over 1 cm, so I doubt they are predatory as there were still over 100 fry that survived. The amount of live foods may have had something to do with that as well.
My advice, get green water started and cross all your fingers, toes, and eyes. Then a bit of prayer. You may be able to keep them alive long enough for the green water to cycle by feeding microworms or bbs.
Larry Vires
Impossible only means that somebody hasn't done it correctly yet.
Thanks!, for all the information and suggestions! I have a feeling this tank is too sterile for them. As I had said, it was a previously cycled tank used for quarantining and I had thrown in some plants from a "plant holding tank" that had some brown algae in it.
Bas Pels,I put some stones in a shallow container in tank water outside to try and get some algae growth as you suggested.
pleco_breeder; I'll have to find out how to create some green water and I'll have to do a search about moina as I am not familiar with that.
I have a 5 gallon hex for some RCS with a java moss mat and I know that tank has copepods in it. Perhaps if I take the mat and rinse it out in some of the otos tank water I'll get some critters seeded in there. But I have a question for you. Aren't copepods destructive to eggs and fry? Also, the 5 gallon hex has Planaria in it and I think they're supposed to be bad news for eggs. Please correct me if I'm mistaken on this.
Also want to ask if you leave the lights on over your tank while there are eggs seen or leave them off. I remember reading somewhere where eggs are very sensitive to light and it has a negative effect on them.
Thanks again to all!
Bas Pels,I put some stones in a shallow container in tank water outside to try and get some algae growth as you suggested.
pleco_breeder; I'll have to find out how to create some green water and I'll have to do a search about moina as I am not familiar with that.
I have a 5 gallon hex for some RCS with a java moss mat and I know that tank has copepods in it. Perhaps if I take the mat and rinse it out in some of the otos tank water I'll get some critters seeded in there. But I have a question for you. Aren't copepods destructive to eggs and fry? Also, the 5 gallon hex has Planaria in it and I think they're supposed to be bad news for eggs. Please correct me if I'm mistaken on this.
Also want to ask if you leave the lights on over your tank while there are eggs seen or leave them off. I remember reading somewhere where eggs are very sensitive to light and it has a negative effect on them.
Thanks again to all!
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pleco_breeder
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Hello,
You're making a lot of generalizations in this post. Most copepods could care less about eggs. There are a few species that will attack eggs, but you're referring to something like 1%. Copepods are actually rather specialized feeders with the vast majority feeding on freefloating algae/green water. It is also incorrect to say that all eggs are sensitive to light. Most eggs will have no ill effects from constant lighting, and it's actually preferred to leave lights on constantly when spawning some fish, bettas are a good example.
I looked forever for a starter culture of green water recently to feed daphnia and moina cultures. Once I finally gave up on the search, I started noticing that my outdoors plant tanks had a yellow tint to them. I had been under the assumption that it was just a build up of dust and tint from a new fertilizer I was using. However, after siphoning some into a jug, it was actually green water. I had started cultures outdoors using various aquatic mosses and miracle grow in the past, but this was unexpected.
As to moina, they are closely related to daphnia. The reason I culture them is because they are a lot smaller. I've raised several spawns of peacock gudgeon fry in tanks that never recieved the first feeding because I had a good colony of moina in the tank. Moina eats micro critters and green water, and fry eat moina.
Larry Vires
You're making a lot of generalizations in this post. Most copepods could care less about eggs. There are a few species that will attack eggs, but you're referring to something like 1%. Copepods are actually rather specialized feeders with the vast majority feeding on freefloating algae/green water. It is also incorrect to say that all eggs are sensitive to light. Most eggs will have no ill effects from constant lighting, and it's actually preferred to leave lights on constantly when spawning some fish, bettas are a good example.
I looked forever for a starter culture of green water recently to feed daphnia and moina cultures. Once I finally gave up on the search, I started noticing that my outdoors plant tanks had a yellow tint to them. I had been under the assumption that it was just a build up of dust and tint from a new fertilizer I was using. However, after siphoning some into a jug, it was actually green water. I had started cultures outdoors using various aquatic mosses and miracle grow in the past, but this was unexpected.
As to moina, they are closely related to daphnia. The reason I culture them is because they are a lot smaller. I've raised several spawns of peacock gudgeon fry in tanks that never recieved the first feeding because I had a good colony of moina in the tank. Moina eats micro critters and green water, and fry eat moina.
Larry Vires
Impossible only means that somebody hasn't done it correctly yet.
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C-Magnier
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Re: Otocinclus laying eggs!
Hi,
Just 3 pictures :
[img::]https://webh12.cern.ch/cmagnier/images/ ... 050507.JPG[/img]
[img::]https://webh12.cern.ch/cmagnier/images/ ... 0507_2.JPG[/img]
[img::]https://webh12.cern.ch/cmagnier/images/ ... 2007_3.JPG[/img]
A+
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Cathy
Just 3 pictures :
[img::]https://webh12.cern.ch/cmagnier/images/ ... 050507.JPG[/img]
[img::]https://webh12.cern.ch/cmagnier/images/ ... 0507_2.JPG[/img]
[img::]https://webh12.cern.ch/cmagnier/images/ ... 2007_3.JPG[/img]
A+
--
Cathy
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apistomaster
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pleco_breeder, Thank you again for the great information. I find it amazing how much I can learn from people. And I appreciate your taking the time to pass on your knowledge!
I'm trying to "harvest" some green water. From what I've read, culturing daphnia is not that simple! I think I'll leave that to breeders like yourself. For now, all the eggs are gone, but the female is still carrying, so maybe I'll get another chance for getting some fry. I'm just happy the Otos are doing so very well in their new home. I never expected the eggs, but wanted to know how to care for them if possible.
C-Magnier, Do you have any posts as to how you managed to get the Oto fry to survive? Or perhaps you can share some insight on what to do, or, what not to do when eggs are laid. I'm sure quite a few people would love to know.
I'm trying to "harvest" some green water. From what I've read, culturing daphnia is not that simple! I think I'll leave that to breeders like yourself. For now, all the eggs are gone, but the female is still carrying, so maybe I'll get another chance for getting some fry. I'm just happy the Otos are doing so very well in their new home. I never expected the eggs, but wanted to know how to care for them if possible.
C-Magnier, Do you have any posts as to how you managed to get the Oto fry to survive? Or perhaps you can share some insight on what to do, or, what not to do when eggs are laid. I'm sure quite a few people would love to know.
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C-Magnier
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Hi,
http://forum.aquagora.fr/12/2264/0/
It's very simple...
When you see your fishes laying eggs, try to find them. It's very, very small, les than one mm, yellow / orange, strongly sticked on leafs.
Just take the leaf with the eggs and put it in a little box.
2 days later, eggs will hatch, very little yellow larveas.
Just wait for 2 days to feed them. As you can see in pictures, they eat peas and spinach... Nothing else.
If you want you cam give some "infusil" or some food for very youngs "viviparous" but I think it's not necessary.
They are very easy to feed, it grows fast.
The 6 youngs are now in normal tanks...
Sorry for the poor English
A+
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Cathy
Do you speak French?
.../...
C-Magnier, Do you have any posts as to how you managed to get the Oto fry to survive? Or perhaps you can share some insight on what to do, or, what not to do when eggs are laid. I'm sure quite a few people would love to know.
http://forum.aquagora.fr/12/2264/0/
It's very simple...
When you see your fishes laying eggs, try to find them. It's very, very small, les than one mm, yellow / orange, strongly sticked on leafs.
Just take the leaf with the eggs and put it in a little box.
2 days later, eggs will hatch, very little yellow larveas.
Just wait for 2 days to feed them. As you can see in pictures, they eat peas and spinach... Nothing else.
If you want you cam give some "infusil" or some food for very youngs "viviparous" but I think it's not necessary.
They are very easy to feed, it grows fast.
The 6 youngs are now in normal tanks...
Sorry for the poor English
A+
--
Cathy
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C-Magnier
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Hi,
Sorry, I dont know the english words for "Tamis a artemia".
The little box, you can see it in picture above
No air stone, just keep the "box" clean.
Temperature? In the tank, around 27 °C. But the "little box" is placed on the top off the tank, and near lights. So I think that temperature can be 30°C in the middle off the day, and may be 26°C at the end off the night.
It's very easy to breed for this specie, probably Otocinclus vitattus, you just have to find eggs and fresh spinach
A+, have fun
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Cathy
Sorry, I dont know the english words for "Tamis a artemia".
The little box, you can see it in picture above
No air stone, just keep the "box" clean.
Temperature? In the tank, around 27 °C. But the "little box" is placed on the top off the tank, and near lights. So I think that temperature can be 30°C in the middle off the day, and may be 26°C at the end off the night.
It's very easy to breed for this specie, probably Otocinclus vitattus, you just have to find eggs and fresh spinach
A+, have fun
--
Cathy
How to remove eggs from glass??
It seems that the Otos are spawning every 3 to 4 days, and today there are some cream colored eggs on the glass aquarium walls.
Is there a safe and easy way to remove them?
All and any info is again appreciated!
PS...Have to mention this as it seems comical. One of the males that was below the female while she was spawing with another male now has an egg attached to the side of his head!
Is there a safe and easy way to remove them?
All and any info is again appreciated!
PS...Have to mention this as it seems comical. One of the males that was below the female while she was spawing with another male now has an egg attached to the side of his head!
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pleco_breeder
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Hello,
You should be able to safely "roll" them off the walls and plants in the same manner used for collecting cory eggs. For larger spawns, although a bit unorthodox, I've used one of the soft rubber algae scrapers and a net in the past. This doesn't normally apply to ottos because so few eggs are usually attached to the tank walls, but possibly with a large colony spawn.
Larry Vires
You should be able to safely "roll" them off the walls and plants in the same manner used for collecting cory eggs. For larger spawns, although a bit unorthodox, I've used one of the soft rubber algae scrapers and a net in the past. This doesn't normally apply to ottos because so few eggs are usually attached to the tank walls, but possibly with a large colony spawn.
Larry Vires
Impossible only means that somebody hasn't done it correctly yet.
70+ eggs
The Otos were spawning since Fri., and Sat. they were NON stop! Today, Sun., I counted over 70 eggs deposited with the female finally resting. Most of the eggs were scattered on the bottom of the tank and most were milk white in color. I have no idea what that coloring means as far as egg health goes.
I had been able to scrape some from the walls yesterday and put a few plant leafs with eggs in a small container. I'll post if anything develops with them.
I did manage to get two video clips of them in action with the deposited egg afterwards. I don't know if I can post them on this forum or not. I have the clips in files currently on my desktop. If anyone knows about getting the video clips posted here please let me know.
OH-In my previous post I mentioned that it looked like an Oto had an egg attached to its head. I was mistaken! There are two shiny egg shaped markings on the males heads, one on each side. But the male that was spawning had those markings very pronounced. I'm wondering if they become pronounced during mating in the male or if it has to do with age as the other male is younger/smaller in size.
Again, thank you all for your help!
I had been able to scrape some from the walls yesterday and put a few plant leafs with eggs in a small container. I'll post if anything develops with them.
I did manage to get two video clips of them in action with the deposited egg afterwards. I don't know if I can post them on this forum or not. I have the clips in files currently on my desktop. If anyone knows about getting the video clips posted here please let me know.
OH-In my previous post I mentioned that it looked like an Oto had an egg attached to its head. I was mistaken! There are two shiny egg shaped markings on the males heads, one on each side. But the male that was spawning had those markings very pronounced. I'm wondering if they become pronounced during mating in the male or if it has to do with age as the other male is younger/smaller in size.
Again, thank you all for your help!
Now have FRY !
This morning, Tues, 6/19, I noticed fry in the main 10 gallon tank with the parents and in the tub and cup I set up with some eggs. The tub is 2 gallons, filled 1/4 of the way with a mini heater and inside the tub is a 2 cup pyrex measuring cup. Both tub and cup have fry in them. I gave them some Hikari first bites (powdered food for fry). Also, they are resting on some blanched zucchini and boiled spinach that I had in the main tank.
The female is still laying eggs today, although she is nowhere as big in size as when she started out.
Any suggestions on how to do water changes in the tub and cup? I do have airline tubing with a piece of nylon socking on the end with an air flow valve that I use in my shrimp tank. I think this is the best way for me to go since the fry are so very tiny unless someone else has some suggestions.
I'm still wondering how to post pictures and video clips on this forum, and would appreciate replies regarding this.
Update on fry
Little update on eggs and fry;
Well, it so happens that the 10 gallon tank the breeding ottos were in sprung a leak. Moved them and any fry caught up in a cup to a 5&1/2 gal. spare and cycled tank I had on hand.
The eggs I had put in the bucket and glass measuring cup hatched, 10 fry in all there, but we had major temp. swings-48F at night-which I believe hurt them and out of the 10 only one survived, and I moved it to the 5.5 gal. tank. There are 6 fry in this tank now. Doesn't seem like many after all the eggs that were laid...
Hopefully they'll survive.
Well, it so happens that the 10 gallon tank the breeding ottos were in sprung a leak. Moved them and any fry caught up in a cup to a 5&1/2 gal. spare and cycled tank I had on hand.
The eggs I had put in the bucket and glass measuring cup hatched, 10 fry in all there, but we had major temp. swings-48F at night-which I believe hurt them and out of the 10 only one survived, and I moved it to the 5.5 gal. tank. There are 6 fry in this tank now. Doesn't seem like many after all the eggs that were laid...
Hopefully they'll survive.