Otto restock

MOAR CATFISH!!!

Originally there were five or six otocinclus catfish in the Fireplace Aquarum as part of the algae cleanup crew.  These are cute but sensitive little critters and I suspect that early unstable tank water parameters contributed to the gradual yet early demise of all them except one.  Ottos are social and like to be in groups so it didn’t seem right to have just the one remaining.  Today the local fish store had a restock on ottos so I picked up five more.  They acclimatised well (no casualties) and have definitely upped the peppiness level in the aquarium.  They seem to enjoy playing in the current from the powerhead because they could hide out in the more sedate regions of the tank but instead they’re upfront and active.

Ottos keep plants clean

12 day update and all the new ottos are doing well.  I think they do a pretty good job of polishing the green algae off of the lower levels leaves of both the Ludwigia palustris and the Lobelia cardinalis ‘Dwarf’.