New To Dwarf Puffers

[tyffpostlethwait]

Okay, so I'm really new to this but I will do my best to be clear and hopefully someone can help me out!

I have a full cycled 10 gallon tank. I ordered 3 otto cats and 3 dwarf puffers from my LFS and the ottos came in first. So I brought them home and got them acclimated. Three days went by and they were active, appeared to be eating algae off of everything and they appeared healthy - round, white bellies and good color. I tested my water EVERY day and got perfect readings (0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and low nitrates). Fourth day, out of nowhere - one is dead. Fifth day, everyone is fine but I'm worried maybe they don't have enough to eat so I give some zucchini - which they munch on but not a lot (so I took that to mean they weren't all that hungry - therefore getting enough from the tank). Sixth day, I checked on them when I started testing the water - they were both fine and good color. I came back five minutes later to check the test and one was laying in the corner not really moving but not quite dead. Five minutes later when I checked again - he too was dead. The next day, in the morning the final otto appeared fine. By evening, he was floating - dead. So I cannot figured out what went wrong. Maybe someone can help? The fish had round white bellies (didn't appear starved) and I read if they had parasites their belly would be read - they weren't. The LFS had ordered five so he still had two in the store when I called after mine died - his were (and are) still alive. So I don't know what on earth I did wrong? If something stressed them out too much or what?
Meanwhile, LFS had me bring home ONE of my three puffers to see how he did. Well he's been here two days and seems to be alright. His color is good, he doesn't appear thin (but he's so small I cannot really tell). However, I don't think he's eating - which I read is normal for a few days but I'm a little overly cautious after the ottos. I offer bloodworms every day and he doesn't even acknowledge them except to swim away from them. There are snails gone crazy in the tank and I don't know for sure if he's eaten any but I've yet to catch him - he seems to 'hunt' them but I've never seen him actually go for one. He does appear to pick at something like he's eating from a piece of wood in the tank - maybe there's something I can't see that he's eating?

Okay, so those are the details - I apologize for how long that was and hopefully it was at least clear. I guess what I want to know is if anyone here has had similar experiences and might be able to figure out what happened with my ottos? Or perhaps if I should give the puffer back and give up on the tank? I dont' want to kill fish because I'm doing something wrong. I read that to catch the ottos they are dosed with cyanide and that kills a lot of them but I don't think that was my problem since my three died but the LFS's two didn't. I just don't know what to do - I have until Thursday to pick up the other puffers or he's going to put them up for sale (which I understand) but I'm afraid to bring them home early and kill them. ARGGH! I guess just any advice from someone more knowledgable than me would be helpful, lol. Thanks again!

Tiffany

[netty-ray]

what temp is your tank?and what filteration are you useing?

[tyffpostlethwait]

My filtration is just the Aqua-tech model that came with the tank. I was planning to upgrade in a few weeks when I had the spare money.
The heater I use is supposed to keep the tank at 78 degrees without adjustment. However, it fails to do so and instead, the tank stays around 76-77. Another item I was planning to upgrade in a few weeks.

[Sponge bob]

Well you came to the right website, Welcome to the site. I had an otto for my 12 gallon, 3 days or so it died with a very harsh ich/fungal(fungus) all over it. Well check this out http://www.otocinclus.com/
Maybe you can find something about them there.

[groovitudedude]

Welcome to the forum.

What decorations/plants are in the tank? If you are planning on having 3 Dwarf Puffers, it would probably be a good idea to have a lot of plants for broken lines of sight.

[tyffpostlethwait]

I have this big standing hollow log attached to a rock and Java fern is attached to the rock base - that seems to be the favorite spot of my solo puffer. I have two taller, big leaf silk plants and two shorter but bushier live plants - one is a java fern but I dont remember the name of the other. I was planning to get more before bringing home the puffers but then my ottos started dying and I lost focus. However, before the remaining two DPs come home, it will be even more heavily planted.