Vanished Otos

Well, while I was away, the four Otos in my three foot tank all vanished. I have eight more in other tanks and they're all fine so I'm a bit puzzled as to why these particular four perished. Just to note that I've had a lot of problems keeping plants alive in that tank - apart from Java Fern - so I'm wondering if the two things are connected?

Oh they could be. How do your stats in there compare to the other tanks? Not necessarily Ammonia/NitrIte but NitrAte, Ph, Kh etc? Do you have anything different in there such as substrate? Wood? or an ornament made out of something different?

Unfortunately, I lost all my Excel tank stats. when the old laptop died in the great milk spillage accident...

If memory serves me correct, the GH is the same in all the tanks - about 5-6. Can't remember the KH but I'll test the water later on and let you know. It did drop low for a while so I had to buffer the tanks to increase it.

I've read alright that Otos are quite sensitive to water chemistry so it would make sense that something like that wiped them out. I have similar fake ornaments in all the tanks but they're all made by a leading aquarium supply company so I'm assuming they're all ok.

Apart from that, it's the usual rocks and bogwood. The rocks are all sedimentary/igneous (volcanic) in origin i.e. no limestones/metallic ores so AFAIK they're all ok too. Unless my Geology is very rusty...:lol:

That's a bit of a sod Mary, sorry to hear that, but at least all the other fish are doing ok, which is good to see after a holiday.

It does seem strange that you have had problrms with the plants in that tank too though.

I think it's an Oto thing. Mine disappeared when i was on holiday too

Perhaps they just pine! :lol: