7Enigma
Aquarium Advice Addict
Hello everyone,
I've been dealing with a problem with the oto for a while now but it's started to get much worse in the last week and I'm about ready to suck the bugger out.
My beautiful gold barb has been getting sucked after lights out occasionally. I would attribute it to the oto not being fed enough, but now I'm sure that is not the case. There is adequate algae and diatoms visible in the tank. I feed algae wafers every night for the BN pleco and oto. Up to this point I would know if I forgot an algae wafer because occasionally (say one out of 5 times) the next day the barb would have a mark (it would look like a red rash on the side of the body). Now even with the feeding he's ignored his normal food source and have gone for the slime layer.
I'm very worried the barb will develop an infection because the wound is now definitely deeper into the tissue.
I've heard of this happening with Chinese algae eaters when they get older, but this is definitely a true otocinclus catfish which I've had since the tank was started several years ago. Is it possible my oto has developed a taste for the slime layer instead of its most prized food (diatoms)? I tried to sneak up on the oto with the net today to hopefully transplant him with my dwarf puffer at work (a fish which would NOT put up with the harassment), but I just don't know how I can catch this guy without seriously wounding him (well planted tank).
I'm honestly thinking of trying to suck him up with my siphon and either euthanizing him with clove oil if he makes it through the tubing without harm, or quickly bashing him if he gets stuck part way in the tubing (more humane than trying to get him out to then kill him). I really dislike destroying animals even when they turn on each other, but I cannot risk keeping him with the barb any longer.
Before anyone asks, I do not think the marks could be from the BN pleco (or any other tank mate) because the BN is MUCH larger and has a much larger mouth. My guess is the oto is small enough to attach when the barb is resting and do its thing.
I don't have a QT tank anymore (my QT tank is now my puffer tank at work) and so moving the barb or oto for a bit is not an option. Also the barb is large enough that my small breeder tank I used with wounded tiger barbs is too small and would probably just stress the barb out more than anything. I'm going to give it one more night to await some responses and try to overfeed the tank to tempt the oto with something else, but as mentioned there is adequate algae/diatoms/algae wafers supplied.
I've been dealing with a problem with the oto for a while now but it's started to get much worse in the last week and I'm about ready to suck the bugger out.
My beautiful gold barb has been getting sucked after lights out occasionally. I would attribute it to the oto not being fed enough, but now I'm sure that is not the case. There is adequate algae and diatoms visible in the tank. I feed algae wafers every night for the BN pleco and oto. Up to this point I would know if I forgot an algae wafer because occasionally (say one out of 5 times) the next day the barb would have a mark (it would look like a red rash on the side of the body). Now even with the feeding he's ignored his normal food source and have gone for the slime layer.
I'm very worried the barb will develop an infection because the wound is now definitely deeper into the tissue.
I've heard of this happening with Chinese algae eaters when they get older, but this is definitely a true otocinclus catfish which I've had since the tank was started several years ago. Is it possible my oto has developed a taste for the slime layer instead of its most prized food (diatoms)? I tried to sneak up on the oto with the net today to hopefully transplant him with my dwarf puffer at work (a fish which would NOT put up with the harassment), but I just don't know how I can catch this guy without seriously wounding him (well planted tank).
I'm honestly thinking of trying to suck him up with my siphon and either euthanizing him with clove oil if he makes it through the tubing without harm, or quickly bashing him if he gets stuck part way in the tubing (more humane than trying to get him out to then kill him). I really dislike destroying animals even when they turn on each other, but I cannot risk keeping him with the barb any longer.
Before anyone asks, I do not think the marks could be from the BN pleco (or any other tank mate) because the BN is MUCH larger and has a much larger mouth. My guess is the oto is small enough to attach when the barb is resting and do its thing.
I don't have a QT tank anymore (my QT tank is now my puffer tank at work) and so moving the barb or oto for a bit is not an option. Also the barb is large enough that my small breeder tank I used with wounded tiger barbs is too small and would probably just stress the barb out more than anything. I'm going to give it one more night to await some responses and try to overfeed the tank to tempt the oto with something else, but as mentioned there is adequate algae/diatoms/algae wafers supplied.