xXInkedPhoenixX

I use Seachem Paraguard and have succesfully treated parasitic infections (mainly Ich). I believe either formula will act similarly, though I have no experience with the Fritz version. The pleco should be fine with either- I treated my Otos with Paraguard and they did fine (and no losses).

Want to talk obsessed? I wanted more horned Nerites to add to my collection (I have 3 in one tank). I went to the LFS and they didn't have any (and of course the bigboxes don't carry them- at least I've never seen them there). So I ridiculously ordered a 5 pack online (ridiculous because the shipping cost more than the snails). Silly me!

OTOCINCLUS COCAMA (TIGER): The Accidental Oto Tank Morning after: So morning patrols of the Accidental Oto tank after the big move yesterday found all my Cocama still doing well. This morning they apparently had some sort of meeting, and as per usual with these meetings someone decides they're too important to show up (only 4 Cocama hanging out- the other 2 were off doing something else apparently...hopefully spawning)- but they seem to be confering with their new Vittatus tankmates. Everyone is playing very nicely. C'mon, they're Otocinclus- did we expect any less? I left a camera on for a little bit to try and catch some of the Accidental Tank's activities. They tend to shoal a lot more in the evening and mornings before and just after the lights come on. there's a little activity in the following google link (1m 34 sec), most of the activity is towards the middle and end of the video. https://photos.app.goo.gl/xnKJGrUrbYtcdUweA They got light maintenance today as really they didn't make any big messes. On a side note, all 7 Vittatus babies accounted for and doing very well.

As predicted. Found deceased this morning. 😞 SIP lil one

Don't have one but LOVE them....PICS PICS PICS!!!! 😍

Thank you@lindabee53 for the compliments! What I have learned has been mostly by my experience and by hours and hours of research on the fish that I keep. Things like walking out of a fish/pet store with fish when that is not your intention definitely happens. Even with someone like me who is typically patient. The Cocama were definitely what I would consider "impulse" for me though I did not buy them the day I saw them. One of my tanks is 8 months old and still not fully stocked out as I'd planned it. THIS is why it's very important to be prepared to have a QT. A seeded sponge in a working tank (with a back up sponge to replace it when pulled) is probably the most important. Sounds like you have that! Since I had the Cocamas in QT I had another QT running for my Flex aka Ember House, now it's holding a sick fish and where the Cocama used to be is now up and running for something new. So I'm glad you've understood the importance. Now that you have Accidental Cory and Oto in your care, make sure the Oto get opportunities for food. As mentioned above my Otos love Hikari Algae wafers and now Repashy Super Green- but Cories can be kinda piggy, so I would highly recommend putting a veggie or two in there since they can't be eaten as quickly. My Otos, though I've tried so, so many veggies the only one they've touched are English Cucumbers- but others have been successful with spinach, green beans, squash etc (usually after blanching- I don't have to blanch the cucumber). Hope you are successful with the process!! And have fun with that quilt (I love quilts and have purchased several from crafters).

So far my Endler isn't doing any better. After a couple days beside the mouth around the gills turned red. Today was the last of a 4 day treatment of Furan2. I did a tank cleaning/water change and started a round of Kanaplex. He's not too active, mostly resting on stuff in the tank. Sadly I wouldn't be too surprised if he doesn't make it overnight, though his mouth seems a bit less red than it was. I'm 🤞 Meanwhile his 2 male friends in the Flex are still doing well and nobody there is showing any signs of illness.

I wouldn't think it'd be against the rules here if someone offered to help who was local. It's a rescue from a disaster not a trade or sale but I get it if it is. I'd ask any of the LFS around you to see if they can help or maybe they know someone who can take them for you! Again, so sad to hear. 😞

I am SO very sorry Lexi. How terrible. I think it wouldn't hurt to call them and see. Sometimes placing a craigslist or if you have it facebook ad might work too per others on the site. What state are you in?

OTOCINCLUS COCAMA (TIGER): D-day- move from the 2 gallon QT to The Accidental Oto Tank I had a 12 hour night shift behind me so I didn't start moving day quite as early as I'd hoped. I lost a lot of natural light for some of my pics so I apologize- I am not patient with camera phones and not a professional photographer. That being said I hope you enjoy today's entry. First, when someone new comes to stay we want to clean house right? That was top billing on this project. A thorough cleaning of The Accidental tank started with a good vacuum and HOB prefilter squeeze out. I don't really like doing this when I know there's possibilities of eggs/fry here but it did need to be done. I only plan to spot clean with basters from this point forward for a while. The lid got cleaned, the plants got trimmed and moved. There's always bits that escape you but it got done. While cleaning up the plants I spotted baby Vittatus #7 who quickly got caught and put in with their six siblings they were probably IN the Amazon when I was messing with it which prompted it to come out from hiding: Everything cleaning-wise got done and new foods put in the Oto bowl: Then it was time to start moving "furniture" into the new house. In order to hopefully make the Cocama more comfortable they had their own brand new Narrow Leaf Java Fern and piece of Spiderwood. So I pulled the Narrow leaf out first- there was a piece of Spiderwood in the Accidental tank I intended to use for a plant anchor so I glued the plant to that and placed it: The Cocama's English Cucumber clip got moved and new cucumber placed. Now there will be 2 clips in the tank one on each side: The Spiderwood was rather large for the 2 gallon QT (technically 1.72 gallons) and was the Cocamas' favorite place to hang out. Several of them were attached to it when I was moving it. The little buggers were very stubborn about coming off even when it was out of water. It took some coaxing then I placed it: Now everything was ready for their move in. Below are some after pictures and a link for those who can link to google photos of the release of one of the Otos. You will also see another already having been released sitting on the Amazon: https://photos.app.goo.gl/LeA5oBXwhFUV9paP9 (35 seconds) I was hoping at some point one of the Vittatus would be on the glass alongside one of the Cocama so you can see size difference. I got one where you can't see their whole bodies but you get the jist: This second one was taken when the lights went out so I had to modify the pic so you can at least see shape, more for reference of size than beauty here: This was an exciting day for me and Otos. They haven't been too active since I put them in the tank but they've been moving occassionally, appear to be calm and have no outward signs of stress. I feel like this is the point where I'm a little nervous- just in case the parameters from the QT and their new tank stress them some. I'm crossing my fingers they have a good night and all is well when I do morning patrol in the a.m. Here is one final short google linked video of a few in the tank: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wykZFDzBFJAGPJhG8 (13 seconds, 2 on the glass- one you can see briefly in the background inside the Amazon Sword) Hope all is well in your fishkeeping worlds!

Bettas do like veg too so maybe he just wants a bite or two. 🙂 Hope they play nice together during meals.

@CT_ Thanks for the compliment! I'm not sure what I am doing right but apparently it's right enough for them- of all my fish they are the only ones that spawn. There have been no babies in the Parent Tank but there are Rasboras that are very predatory of the little ones so it is possible they have existed recently but I've not seen any. However, now that the Accidental Oto Tank holds tank bred Vittatus, well maybe they're ok with whatever conditions I have even if it holds true others need "super pure water". I potentially could only be doing things half right- maybe if things were tweaked they'd breed more? Not a Scooby Doo.

😄That's funny! The nosey neighbor inviting themselves for dinner!

whatever it is it's pretty!!

@Minanora Thank you very much. I'm a big fan of scavenger animals and catfish are definitely one of those animals I love. Being a small fish keeper there's not a lot of small fish options in the category IMO and I've always loved "glass suckers". When I started out in the hobby this time around I was very happy to see this little fish. They're not very easy to keep as far as I'm concerned though apparently I've managed rather well- I can see where others might struggle. Hoping posts here will help others. The Tiger Otos are another level. My goal is to get them to spawn. I'm hoping that since the Vittatus do spawn for me that they will as well. Since they are spawning in the Accidental Oto Tank this proves to me conditions there are right. I'm crossing my fingers.

I have bacopa in my tank that was grown out of water, once submersed the growth changes and what was once above ground can drop off. Now that being said is this new Bacopa? What you can do is pull it, trim it, and replant it. I trim the tops of mine fairly frequently to popagate a bit more of a bushy look because it's not quite where I want it yet. It's a pretty resilient plant I'm finding and propogates well. Keep in mind I've only been growing Bacopa for a bit over 6 months. Others might have tips- there could be lighting or nutrient deficiency. I run low tech tanks with no heaters or fertilizers and it seems to do well with me.

Any further updates for this thread are now here with the rest of my Oto updates 🙂 The Accidental Oto Keeper

All further updates to this thread will now be here: The Accidental Oto Keeper

Hi, welcome to the forum. Firstly, beautiful betta. As you suspect it is hard to tell if there is fin rot. I see you are doing your best to mitigate any potential damage caused by water parameters. You might also want to check all area of your tanks and where your betta hangs out the most for anything that migh cause further damage to his fins. Keep the water clean and the stress low. Also here is a helpful video on treating betta fin rot:

OTOCINCLUS VITTATUS: The Accidental Oto Tank Morning Inspections: Before I do my daily cleaning I spot check the glass for babies (haven't seen the one I let stay in some days ago), hoping it still alive in there somewhere. The six 20 day old babies I have in the floating breeder are growing very nicely AND it was like a Rumplestiltskin moment- I left them food, they left me nothing but a pile of baby catfish poop. While not gold it's what I like to see. Also tells me I need to put a little more food in there as they ate every single morsel.

OTOCINCLUS COCAMA (TIGER): The 2 Gallon QT Morning Maintenance: Did daily clean up here using a coral feeder or syringe like a baster. Helps me clean up around the edges get the old food out. Then I scoop out a least a half gallon or more of water. The water is very foggy due to the piece of spiderwood and its debris so it's hard to keep a tag on all the Otos. While cleaning today I heard a small splash then a muffled splat. I swear I saw something out of the corner of my eye- it happened in less than the time it would take to blink. I looked around the counter first (this is at the edge of my kitchen) and sure enough one of the Tiger Otos had jumped out, apparently a bit freaked by whatever I was doing at the time) and landed perfectly centered and belly down on my cable organizer box nearby. I about had a panic attack but it thankfully the little one very patiently waited for me to pull the lid off and tip them gently back into the tank. *whew*. I've decided tomorrow is the end of their QT period, today's incident just solidfied it for me but it was already a plan. I may or may not be taking a risk as it's been 32 days so not quite the 5 weeks but since my LFS had them for 2 weeks and they've been really great for the time I've had them I figured it would be a good time- and I'll be on vacation starting tomorrow to be able to observe them and their adjustment to another change. Since I didn't get any opinions on my tank options I have decided I'm going with the tank I lean more towards putting them into: The Accidental Oto Tank. Though it's only a 10 gallon it's well filtered and established, is a species only tank so there are no potential aggressors if they choose to spawn- which I'm really hoping for. IF for some reason they don't work out in there it will be a lot easier to catch them out of the Accidental Tank than it would be to catch them out of my Parent Tank. I'm not great at picture documentation but I'm hoping to get some good journal pictures for tomorrow's move. Wish them luck. 🙂

@Nik_n well Congrats on being able to keep a Betta alive for 3 years I'd call that a success. Every betta will be different of course and I'm sure since your last betta their genetics have changed, lots of different kinds of bettas seem to have come out in the last few years. He may be seeing his reflection that's true but I'd be concerned with the flaring all the time. When you get a chance I think adding a heater will be beneficial for this particular betta. Glad he's building a nest that's a positive sign.

I like to see updates on these because it's nice to know for A) a positive thing to celebrate on the forum and B) for those who search before they post and find remedies that others have had success with!

Aww @Atitagain great post, and so true. I have to get up early for my 10-12 hour shift to do daily maintenance/feeding on my 5 (7 if you count my 2 working 2 gallon QT tanks right now) and spend an hour at least on that before it's done, if I'm really speedy and do the minimum it's still 45 minutes. Though it takes so much of my daily life I live by myself so it's all me which can be gratifying. Having other little souls in my house to keep me company is comforting. Maintentance/routine is a meditative thing for me. While I'm doing it I don't think about the bad things in my life or that are going on in the world. There are days I think about combining inhabitants and stop plans for filling out my tanks (as I have plans but have been patient with transitions). THEN you do exactly as you said. Stop, and watch your water pets and you are instantly at peace with the world.

Hahah nope, it takes a little bit to say, well, that was worth it. Unless it's sarcastic.