The Puffer Forum

I've read about people having some kind of algae eaters - usually Otos... What are the full names for the Oto and should I get one? I have a 20 gallon tank with two dwarf puffers and will probably be picking up two more soon.

-Kenny

Just say otos and your LFS will know what you're after. Otocinclus vittatus is the most common oto in the trade, but folks just call them otos.

Eric

Thanks Jayhawk! One question down, one to go. Make that two - I just thought of another one. Do I need an Oto? Seems like I won't even want one until the tank has some algae. It doesn't yet. Have many should I get for a 20 gallon tank? Will one do the job of cleaning up the algae?

-Kenny

The last (and only) time I tried Otos in a puffertank, my male C. irrubesco
(generally seen as one of the more gentle species), killed them all over a weekend...

By all means, try them out.
But brace yourself; dwarfs are notorious fin-nippers.
For a tank your size I would have gone for an Ancistrus.
At least twice as big as the Dwarfs.

Just my opinion...

I have two otos and a bristlenose in with my SAPs and they all get on fine. Although as with all puffer co-habitation, I am prepared to remove them at any time.

I would wait for algae to come along...some new otos won't touch algae pellets (some never do). Ancistrus (bushynose or bristlenose plecos) is another option and so are clown plecos.

Folks on Dwarf Puffer board report a lot of success with otos and DPs, so it's worth a try, but the warnings above are good.

Also, many new otos simply don't make it. I'd consider getting 2-3 at first but expect to replace some even if the puffers leave them alone. If you get healthy ones, they'll live for years.

Eric

Actually, you will not know whether they are compatible until you try it out. Once in a while, they won't touch that fish no matter what. But most of the time, when mixing fishes with puffers, bigger fish = bigger fins.

Otos are pretty good. Hardworking fellows. Much better than any pleco. That is if you manage to keep them together.

You really cannot talk about algae eaters and puffers without being very specific about tank size, puffers to be housed, and planted or unplanted. There are few general rules that apply to all puffers under all situations.

DPs tend to ignore Otos. Some of them, but not all, ignore shrimp. Most larger than Otocinclus sp. suckermouth cats are too big for most DP tanks.

SAPs in roomy tanks, well planted, and with wood tangles or rock piles, are like to ignore Peckoltia, dwarf panaques, bristlenose, etc.

Carinotetraodons other than DPs are not safe with anything as often as not.