feeding catfish

[shawmutt]

I just got 4 otocinclus sp. I got them because they are in my tank's region and I read that they cleaned algae really well. My question is:

As long as there is algae in the tank, should I assume they are eating ok--or do they need supplemental foods?

 

[shawmutt]

No takers? Common names include otto and dwarf sucker.

 

[Bearfan]

I usually drop in some algae wafers a couple times a week to suppliment them, but if your tank is planted they will be fine. I have a couple in one of my tanks and they seem happy.

 

[fishweed]

Have you checked out the webiste I refer to in my post titled 'new algae eater' within getting started. It links to a whole catfish database so you can work out exactly what type you have.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=3791

the lfs told us not to feed ours as it would make it lazy. however i felt sorry for it, gave it some food and it didn't eat it. it was a real hassle to remove from the tank.

can i feed it potato chunks?

 

[littlelouie]

My BN catfish didn't eat the alg chips either and the tank got really sick from the waste, I was nieve and didn't know the stuff was just breaking down into the gravel until some thread-like white worms became present after a major gravel vac and wiped out my fish. Be careful...just because the LFS recommends certain products doesn't mean they necessarily know for your fish. Check out fishweeds link

Louise

 

[shawmutt]

That site is great fishweeds! Thanks a lot!

 

[ghettorigged]

I have 3 ottos and never need to feed them anything extra. As long as I see little blooms of algae in spots around the tank, I haven't added a thing. They do a pretty good job but I still have to wipe the front of the tank down occasionally.

 

[i3k]

I got 2 snowball plecos and also 1 candy stripe pleco and they just go around the tank sucking on the walls of the tank...also I drop a few algae tablets and they get right on them...dont have any driftwood yet but planning on adding some asap.