Tropical Fish Forums

[oostern]

I just restocked my long-established low-light 10G planted tank with 6 small, tank-raised rummies and 3 otos. The only other community members at present are a passel of small snails.

I'm not used to such active fish, and concerned about the right amount of food to give.
I've been feeding 2 pinches of flake food 1 x day. They gobble it up, and spend a lot of the day nosing the gravel for crumbs. Although I think this behavior fades off as the day progresses. They also devoured the algae wafers I put in for the oto, who prefer tank algae and blanched spinach.

Should I feed the rummies 2x day? if so, do I taper off as they get larger?
Or I can keep dropping algae wafers for them.
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10g low light planted: 6 rummy-nose tetras, 3 oto

[unissuh]

This is not specifically aimed at you, but I find "a pinch" an impossible measure to gauge considering everyone's "pinch" varies enormously. If they have enough to eat for a minute or so, thats plenty to feed. Enough so the fish look full but you shouldn't really see the belly swell - thats too much. Twice a day is fine, but so is once. I don't think it matters really.

You should never have to feed a fish until it stops eating - that would be overfeeding. So I guess the answer might be to not worry, it is normal and healthy for fish to seem like they are always hungry. Not much else for them to do except nose around for food in a tank, and probably reflects what they spend the most time on in the wild anyway.
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Fishing in the Rivers of Light

[oostern]

Okay then.

I'll keep things simple and stick with feeding my "pinch" 1x/day, and skip the wafer, since the oto ignore it.
Now I just have to worry about plumpng up my otos. They came in from the LFS pretty skinny and hungry.

Thanks for the advice.
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10g low light planted: 6 rummy-nose tetras, 3 oto

[unissuh]

Yep, simple is best. If they look healthy and happy, they probably are.

To be honest, the blanched veggies are probably healthier for the Otos anyway. Too much algae pellet is reputed to give them gut blockages, OK once in a while but constantly is no good.
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Fishing in the Rivers of Light

[oostern]

thanks for encouragement on the simple front!

btw, here's 1 of my smaller otos.
Is it at all possible to tell if its "fat" enuf??
They seem to enjoy the spinach, and have some interest in a green bean. Zucchini on the way


[/img]
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10g low light planted: 6 rummy-nose tetras, 3 oto

[unissuh]

It looks reasonably fleshed out. The stomach should be gently curved outward - if it looks like it's swallowed a marble that's too round (either eggs or bloat).

I'll also hazard a guess that your fish is vestitus and female incase you are interested.

EDIT: Whoops, typo - it is probably vittatus.
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Fishing in the Rivers of Light

[oostern]

Good news, thanks!

What indicates she's a she?
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10g low light planted: 6 rummy-nose tetras, 3 oto

[unissuh]

That bulgy bit just past half way on the body - if it is the stomach it's usually marginally more anterior than that. If it's the "egg bulge" it's usually a little further posterior, mature females often have a bulge there from past/present eggs. Takes practice to get it right, keep in mind this is only a guess.

PS - noticed I said the wrong species, it's probably vittatus not vestitus. It is difficult to differentiate the two, but vittatus seems to be collected more, so it is probably that one.
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Fishing in the Rivers of Light

[oostern]

Thanks!
I'll try to ID the gender of the 3.
That's a good challenge to share with my 11-year-old.

And to confirm what all oto-keepers say: they dig zucchini!
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10g low light planted: 6 rummy-nose tetras, 3 oto