The Oto Journal

zucchini...seems to be the favorite thing in the tank. Doesn't take em long to pounce on it as soon as it hits the bottom. ;o)

 

lol

 

Looking to snap some pics but your subjects don't cooperate?

Throw in a zuc

Here's papa Oto and friends:

 

07/27: Still shuffling between work and the rehab center for my father. Time still not on my side to really work on the tanks. I did recharge the CO2. Didn't have much jell-o left so this bottle probably won't last very long. Will get some new made up and ready to go. Zuc's a nukin. I did go in and turn the light to check in on everyone. All is well. Snails cruisin about. Young Oto's continue to grow and very active (for what I saw today).

 

8/12: Been a while since I have updated this. Time is still not quite on my side but getting better. Pops has made it home from rehab but the cancer continues to take its toll.

As for the tank..I haven't spotted any new wigglers or eggs in quite a while. Most tank parameters are still the same except the temp which is still hovering around 78. Can't seem to get it back down to 74. I'm affraid to turn the heat off completely just in case I am not able to keep a good eye on it.

I still have the parents and (6) juvies. All very active. Three of them where working over one of the briggs yesterday...and wouldn't ya know it...I didn't have my camera down there at the time.

I'm also wondering if over crowding could be an issue. My yellows have been doing very well in here as well. I will need to thin the crypt jungle too. Quite a few new plants are popping up.

As for the briggs...I think one of them is smuggling in steroids somehow. He has just exploded in size compared to the others. I have download the recent pics.

 

Thx....It's been a rough time these past few months thats for sure. It plays on ya.

For the temp...me myself...I'm not particularly worried about it however, the goal is to keep all the variables constant in the breeding environment. One off variable could change everything.

 

Yep...normally it wouldn't be an issue. But since we are dealing with Oto's....

 

08/16: Great news! Morning check today....mamma exploded (well...not literally of course ). Found at least (14) eggs. All over the crypt jungle. Was so excited that I forgot to look at the temp as that is the one variable that was off at the moment.

Funny thing about that....I think they may be mind readers somehow. Why you ask? I was down there yesterday and was telling myself that today I need to thin the jungle just in case it was too crowded for them.

Yea!! And I was getting worried that she done. Guess mom and dad made up.

Pics to follow.

[dancing]

 

Mamma continues to lay eggs. Papa following around like a lost puppy. ;o)

Latest count is up to (50). Literally laying them anywhere and everywhere. Going through some pics now to see what may have turned out.

 

Here are some pics from today (08/17):

Eggs in the crypt jungle:


Eggs on Moneywort:


Mama Oto...more eggs in the crypt jungle in the background:


Proud papa...eggs above:


Yet even more eggs:


Small family pic. Baby needs to go on a diet eh?

 

08/18: To the best that I can tell....mama laid 52 eggs total this go around. Unfortunatly, papa missed two and thus not viable (turned white). So the count stays at 50.

Did a 10% wc ahead of expected hatching to begin sometime tomorrow. Went ahead and dropped in additional food as well and added zucchini nummy nums.