Philip Posted July 10, 2022 Share Posted July 10, 2022 I've kept Otocinclus for decades and they have alway hung out together and generally moved around as a group, but lately I have about 7 of them that are acting like I've never seen. It might not be exactly schooling behavior, more shoaling, but they keep in a very tight group and move everywhere very quickly and in tight group. Up and down the entire height of the tank and back and forth across the whole tank. It's kind of cool. They used to be content to hang out in a spot for hours but now they are all full of energy. Nothing has changed, they are all happy and healthy. Big fat bellies. I suppose it should be something to enjoy and think things change once in awhile, but it seems so strange to me. Could this be breeding behavior? Or possibly something is stressing them out? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted July 10, 2022 Share Posted July 10, 2022 IMO since I've successfully had them spawn and raised this is often something they do prior to my finding eggs or babies. Mine mostly do this at night and early AM. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Posted July 10, 2022 Author Share Posted July 10, 2022 xXInkedPhoenixX Now that you mention it, it is happing most early in the morning. I highly doubt any eggs would survive in that tank, but it is heavily planted. Is there anything in particular I should look for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted July 10, 2022 Share Posted July 10, 2022 IME they lay mostly on the underside of broad leaf plants- Amazons in my case. The mother Oto is usually somewhere nearby. Their spawns are not large- I get anywhere from 3-20 babies. Babies are tiny and translucent usually hang out along the top waterline of the tank when new. You can see a lot of what I've been through on my Accidental Oto Keeper journal- link in my signature/tag line below. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Posted July 11, 2022 Author Share Posted July 11, 2022 Fantastic information and helpful photos. Thank you very much. I'll get the magnifying glass out and get to work. R/ P. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewbie Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 I have something like 14 in my 40; and they don't school at all; they all go which ever way and you can find them in all parts of the tank. Now the pygmy school - and when i feed them many of the oto will join the pygmy and create a giant swarming mass of buzzing bees. One thing about oto is there are many different species and I wonder if the different species have slightly different behavior.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 @anewbie My Vittatus and Zebras/Tigers are definitely shoalers- not schoolers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewbie Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 I wish i knew what species i had - i probably have 3 distinct species - not even sure how many i have but i think around 14. One of these days i should set up a 400 with 1000 oto. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 @anewbie well I can tell you since I have moved all of my Otos to my 20 gallon (70+) they make for quite a display when they move around so that would be a cool tank to have if you had 1000 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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