The Oto Journal

Afternoon and evening checks turned out well. All appear to be just fine. 25% water changes for all tanks. One tank left to go.

On the plus side, found (2) more wigglers that survived in the main tank. That puts the count at (3) for the main and (1) in the test tank.

Jugs are filled and treated with fresh water and ready to go if need be.

A nice wintery mix falling at the moment. Major portion to fall tomorrow morning.

 

Update 11-Feb-2010

Well...looks like we are no longer in the danger zone for power loss for this go around....yea!!!!

Check of the tanks revealed all fishies and shrimpies doing well.

Placing fresh DIY CO2 bottles back on the tanks. Prepping Zucchini for feeding.

Didn't spot the wigglers in the main tank today. I did find one in the test tank and boy has he grown! He is about the size of the biggest one in the main tank but a couple weeks younger. Wow.

 

Update 14-Feb-2010

Happy's Valentine's Day! Love is in the air. Morning check of the tanks finds mama oto laying eggs. I may have interrupted the courtship as when I was watching, there was papa and two of the juvies all over her. Was quite comical to watch actually. Didn't notice the eggs at first until I was getting ready to feed the snake when I saw a couple eggs on a bottom leave of a L. x. arcuata. On closer examination, found several more eggs there and a couple on the Bacopa. Will find a nice stem that hopefully has a good number on it and move it over to the test tank for a second round.

Over in the test tank, the one fry there is still doing very well. Has colored up very nicely. Diatom growth in this tank has done very well. Ready for another round of fry.

 

Prepping for water changes after the big race today. Mama continues to lay eggs. She's now focusing on the crypt jungle. May not get a good number for the test. But, if no big numbers on a single stem, I will move two stems over.

 

Update 15-Feb-2010

Got the water changes done just now. 20% wc's in both main tank and test tank.

Main tank: Best count is (25), however (5) are not viable which of course puts the count at (20) in the main tank.

Test tank: Moved over (14) eggs, however, upon closer check, found (1) not viable making it a lucky number of (13) in this tank. I scraped off a swatch of diatoms for a "viewing window" of sorts. Probably should have left it though. But we'll see how it goes.

Anticipated hatching tomorrow.

All other tanks topped off.

 

Here's a couple shots from today. Couldn't get any real good shots of the eggs. I'll try again before the lights go out.

First we'll start with the one little fry in the test tank. This guy is just over (2) weeks old. A bit of a science/development lesson. You can see all his inards developing. Really kewl!


And here's a good side shot:

 

And now...a word from our sponsors.

Oto's love feeds from Ken's Fish. Veggie Sticks and Flakes are the bomb! This was the juvie tank right after feeding.

 

They have done really well on them. So much so, that it is the only manufactured foods they get now.

 

Basically the only way to differentiate them is by size when they are adults. The females will be larger. By requirements...are you referring to sexing?

 

Update 16-Feb-2010

Check of the tanks today was bad news. Almost all the eggs turned out not viable. (

Found (1) wiggler in the main tank and a few eggs still hatching. For the most part....all the remaining eggs fuzzed over. I'm now wondering if the juvies in the tank may have had a part in it.

Over in the test tank was the same. No wigglers and almost all eggs fuzzed over.

I'll get everything cleaned up, water changes and wait til next time.

 

Update 17-Feb-2010

Found (5) wigglers in the main tank. None over in the test tank. Might hold off on the water change today.

Prepping zucchini for all tanks.

 

Update 18-Feb-2010

All continues to progress well with the wigglers. I did count (6) today in the main tank.

Trying something a little different this time. I'm running the air stone 24x7 for now. Thought is to keep plenty of O2 in the tank and increase circulation.

No water change on the main for a couple more days.

 

Update 19-Feb-2010

Daily check:

Main: (6) wigglers still accounted for. Growing nicely. A few of them are nice and plump. Going back down in a few to try and capture some photos. Tank needs a top off. Still holding off on the water change and continuing to run air pump non stop. Mama is very nice and plump again. May have to begin egg watch this weekend.

Test: The (1) fry in this tank continues to grow like he's eating miracle grow pellets. Will try to get an update pic of him as well. At this rate, he'll be over in the Juvie tank before too much longer.

Juvies: All remain very active. Zucchini now stands no chance in this tank. Prepping more. Tiger shrimp thriving as well; even found (1) already berried. Will continue to monitor.

 

Best pic I could manage to get of the fry at the moment. You can see a couple Limpets in here with him.

 

Update 22-Feb-2010

Media change today. Decided to turn off the air stone for a little while since fry are a week old. Will turn it back on later in the eve.

Very nice find today....(10) fry in the main tank instead of initial count of (6). Most excellent! This is making me wonder a bit about the constant running of the air stone. We'll keep it up and wait for next egg batch.

Will drop some veggie flake and sticks in the tanks tonight.

 

How about some baby pics. Here they are at one week of age:


As usual...you're never too young to eat your veggies:

 

Update 24-Feb-2010

Mama has started to lay her next batch of eggs. During my afternoon check of the tank, found (4) eggs. Will check again a little later to see if there are any good stems to move over to the test tank. Hoping to have better viability this go round.

Getting frustrated with the zucchini of late. Seems after blanching and freezing, they are floating back to the top after less than a day. Grrrrrrr...going to try and spear them with plastic toothpicks and see if I can keep them down longer. Normally one would remove them after they get mushy, but this is exactly how the little fry like them. Been trying to remove a carcase for two days now and they aren't giving it up. ;o)