My Otocinclus died!!!
 

So my Otocinclus fish died and I have no idea why.

I tested the water and everything is fine.

So what would make this little guy kick the bucket.

stress, temperature, lack of food...who knows. :-( I'm sorry to hear about your loss though, how long did you have it for?

One thing that might have caused it, if this is the case, is if it was a single oto in a tank. I have never been able to keep them alive for long in singles but when i got 4 of them the lived and have been happy for well over a year. This is definately one fish, from my experience, that not only prefers to be in groups but doesn't do well if not kept in a group of at least 3.

temperature is at 83.4 Farenhite, the water is fine, for food the algae tablets, and I had it for a week.

Temperature seems a little too high. What was your pH?

As previously stated, Otos do best in groups.

PH was between 0-.25 which is ideal or safe.

What should the temperature be at?

I thought anything close to 80F was ok.

that is a great point...otos are schooling fish. Often when schooling fish are kept in singles they are more stressed and will not eat as readily.

I've lost many of them in transport from store to home on in the first week of ownership. I think the fish is just a weak traveler.

yeah, they don't travel well. mine died as well. keeping them in groups will reduce the stress- also if they don't get enough to eat, they will die. they are VERY sensetive to water parameters also. good luck. i don't have the heart to try another round with otos yet...still missing my little guy. :cry:

sorry to hear of ur loss, i had 3 otos now im down to 1 and he has been alone for a while, well with a dwarf puffer. the other 2 died i think due to there not being enuff algae. apparently they will rarely eat anythin other than algae