Betta, Danios, and Oto

revmattchoo

I originally started out last year with a 5 gallon tank and a betta and 2 oto's. I've gone through those fish (the oto's died), then 3 guppies (who died), and two mystery snails (both died and were acquired at two seperate times, never in the same tank at the same time, and the first lived longer than the second). I've now upgraded to a 10 gallon tank with 7 zebra danios, the same betta, and an oto. I was wondering if betta pellets could also be fed to the danios, and flake food to to the betta (either food fed at once type of deal, instead of both). They seem to be getting along for the time being. I'm keeping a watchful eye on the habitat. Also, I've given the betta a hiding spot in a triceratops skull.

If anyone has any tips for keeping these fish in this aquarium, I'm open to them. There's always the possibility for something missed/not aware of, and also for more learning.

rsn48

Ottos really need a bit of algae to survive, if not they will die from starvation. You'll be happy to know they really like zucchinis, so feed the Otto a bit of this. Do research this fish on the net, it is not an easier one to keep initially but once you discover the magic formula, they will settle down and do well.

Oldfishlady

IMO/E, a 10g tank is not big enough for a school of danios, these guy need lots of space to swim, good that you have a proper school though, I use 10g for spawning danios only...

Otos are really cool little fish and they too are social fish that do best in groups of at least 5 or more and will do well in a mature 10g properly stocked tank IMO/E, they tend to come in the fish shop pretty stressed and starved, it is best to wait until they have settled down and eating while in the pet shop for at least 2 weeks before getting them to increase your chance of success.
They tend to do better in mature planted tanks too, but as long as you have lots of places for them to hide and feed them daily with algae type wafers they can survive and as posted they love fresh veggies, mine love their spinach......

As far as the food, I see no problem and not a lot you can do anyway...I would, however, try to feed the betta in a corner to insure that he gets his fair share of the pellets, the danios are pretty fast and can consume the food faster than the betta, get some algae wafers and drop one in for the oto too.

Do you have live plants? and with your bioload, I don't know what kind of husbandry you practice but if you are not already I would make 50% weekly water changes at the very least, what kind of filtration do you have?

revmattchoo

Here is the address to my tank info:

http://www.fishtanks.net/fishtank.php?fishtank=1839

I got all of the fish from Petsmart at different times (Betta, then 3 Danios and the Oto, then 4 more Danios).

I do not have live plants at the moment, especially since I am pretty uneducated as to what they do for a tank at the moment. Enlightenment would be helpful.

The Oto I have seems to be doing well, since he does have a tank of algae all to himself. There are plenty of hiding places for the fish, those who desire to hide at least.

Right now I'm feeding all of the fish flakes, but will go back to pellets if it is better for them.

Go ahead and look at my tank specs and tell me what you think.

iamntbatman

Pellets vs. flakes is sort of a matter of preference. If the betta is fine with flakes, then that should be a fine staple. You might want to switch it up from time to time and feed pellets some days and flakes others just so the fish have some variety in their diets.

As for plants, have a read through Byron's stickies at the top of this part of the forum:
http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/aquarium-plants/

Feel free to ask any plant-related questions you might have there, too.