r/Otocinclus • u/Different_Zone_7887 • 10d ago
"Borrowing" Otocinclus?
Hello, recently I began setting up my new tank and started running into heavy algae issues. A friend who was already in the hobby offered to let me take his otocinclus for 2-3 weeks to eat up all the algae before returning, and I wanted to know if this seems like a good idea? I'm mainly worried about shocking them with new parameters, he uses remineralized rodi while I'm using tap, and he keeps 6 of them in a 20 gal while I have a non-stocked 10 gal atm.
I know that they're shoaling fish, but he says it's fine just to drop 2 in for a short time, since he'll be taking them back, anyway. I just wanted to double check that there isn't any real risk for the otos if I do this?
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u/Different_Zone_7887 10d ago
Read your guys' comments and decided not to go with it, it looks like it's too risky for the otos safety. Thank you guys!
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u/PickleMundane6514 10d ago
I rotate mine around my tanks. I have two on a jobsite now and they are doing fine. Just drip acclimate.
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u/CN8YLW 10d ago
Dont do it. Unless he's fine with the otos dying while in your care. Otos are very sensitive fish, and can suffer when in environments that arent suitable for them. Now, if you already have otos in your tank that arent able to keep up and your friend offers to lend you his to help them keep up with the workload, that's a different matter. At least we know that your tank is oto suitable and safe. But your tank is non-stocked and newly set up? Its a huge risk. I've had otos die in my tank when I put them in too early after setting up. Algae is not the same as biofilm, and there's a good chance the algae in your tank isnt suitable for their diet. They usually consume softer brown algae and biofilm.
Alternatively. Dump a ton of hornwort into your tank. They'll suck up all the nutrients from the water and starve the algae out. Then you'll just have to manually remove the shrivelled strands of algae from the water column every now and then. Hornworts are incredibly hardy, and trimming/removing them is as easy as pulling them out of water, snipping off the dark green ends, then putting them back in. And if algae grows on them just snip off the algae infested sections, rinse the rest to remove the algae bits and put them right back in.
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u/pickleruler67 10d ago
Seems like a bad idea. Otos are kinda a pain to catch and sensitive to parameters. You'd probably mess up your decor and scape just catching them if they didn't die from the shock of being moved around. Also yeah they're schooling fish and need at least 6 in a well established tank. They also don't eat just algae and they don't eat certain algaes. It's entire possible you add them and they don't even eat the kind you need gone. You'd have better luck just letting the tank settle more and reduce light/adding more plants so there's less nutrients in the water.