What's your opinion: Otos or more cories?

[emerald76]

I'm contemplating getting either otos or more cories. What's your guys' opinion? I have a 33 breeder with rams, guppies, peppered cories, and rummynose.


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[PNWaquarist]

Depends on your tank's needs. Otos are algae-eaters. Corys are primarily carnivores and are good for scavenging uneaten food from the substrate.

From an aesthetic standpoint, I like corys better. But that's JMO.

 

[dalto]

I agree, those are very different fish in every way.

Coprydoras are bottom dwellers and scavengers. Otos are all over the tank by primarily stuck to surfaces up off the substrate.

I would almost all be inclined to expand the size of your groups of shoaling species.

 

[emerald76]

The tank already has cories and I was considering 2-4 otos as I think they are pretty cute. If I didn't get otos I wanted false Julii cories.


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[Fishobsessed7]

I'd get more cories.


Fishobsessed7

 

[emerald76]

So everyone is saying cories- I know otos are difficult, I've done a lot of research on pellet training and such. What else is making everyone suggest cories? I'm simply curious- I love cories but I also really enjoy otos, they are so cute.


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[Eggheadfish]

I vote cories just because I adore them so much. They have great personalities...and because they let you know when they're happy. Increasing my shoal size showed me more dancing an playing, more egg laying, and generally more secure behavior.
I think a lot of people on here would vote for increased sizes of schools/shoals rather than an increased mix of species because it more closely resembles their natural state of being and reduces stress (thereby usually ensuring a longer lifespan)
You are the boss of your tank but I find if there's a fish I would like to have, I just start hunting for another tank!
Good luck!

 

[emerald76]

That's the thing, I'd like another tank but I can't have more than one set up.


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[dragon14]

I vote cories! I think otos are happiest in groups of 6-10. 2-4 may not be as happy

 

[Fishobsessed7]

I vote cories! I think otos are happiest in groups of 6-10. 2-4 may not be as happy

+1 plus look at the size of natural cory shoals

Fishobsessed7

 

[emerald76]

Oh I saw that!


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[emerald76]

So how many more peppered cories do you guys think I can add?

33 long, guppies (getting rid of all but 2 males and 5 females, I'm getting rid of any fry), 2 rams (both female, adding a male and getting rid of a female), 5 peppered cories, and 5 rummies, planted with wood and Flourite, low light and heavy filtration.


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[Fishobsessed7]

3-5


Fishobsessed7

 

[Fish king]

There great fish I have an otto in my 10g it's not doing much about the algae tho but fun to watch


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[trennamw]

I really love Otos ... Not sure whaT pellet training means ... All the Otos I've had are happy to eat omega one algae wafers.

I think one advantage is their tiny bioload, and that they eat something different than cories. But 2-4 would likely be stressed. That being said I started with 4 and quickly went to 3 (filter accident), and they were very active. But then I moved, the tank went into a brighter room, and I changed the decor. I got more but I still don't see them often enough to even say how many I have.


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[dalto]

It will depend on the tank setup but in general Otos are more prone to hiding than Corydoras.

 

[FWFishTanks]

You could probably do a few otos and one more Cory cat

 

[Fish king]

How big do they get


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[dalto]

How big do they get

Otos get to be about 2" and Corydoras trilineatus get to be about 2-2.5"

 

[Fish king]

How many in a ten gallon



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