Otto Fish and Snails!!!

Question

Ok....here's the problem...

I bought this fish tank over a month ago...I bought 2 guppies, 2 otto catfish, and 1 snail.

Now, my Ottos are bloated and it seems like their bellies only grow bigger and my 1 snail died but now I have too many snails to count, and more eggs are being laid!

What's wrong with my ottos and what do I do about the snails?!?!

Answer 1

The snail is probably an asexual breed - most likely a 'pond snail' and the best method for these guys is to control it. You'll never be truly rid of them, because their eggs are everywhere in your tank by now. Put a snail trap in your tank; a small plastic container with a lid - like a Cool Whip container - with holes poked in the lid about as big around as your pinky. Put lettuce or another leafy vegetable in there and sink it to the bottom of your tank just before lights out. In the morning, take it out and freeze it, then dispose of it - make sure to check to see none of your fish got in there before you freeze! Do this every day until your snails seem to be reducing in population, then you should only have to do it occasionally. You can also handpick the ones off the side of the glass every once in awhile, put them in a ziplock bag and freeze them.

Your oto's could be bloated due to constipation - this is common when they're not fed a proper diet of vegetable matter or algae wafers in addition to the algae in the tank and can be treated by feeding them defrosted mashed pea or giving them an Epsom salt bath. Other causes could be they are eggbound (not likely, since it is uncommon and both are bloated), bacterial infection due to poor water quality, or a tumor.

If you do proper weekly water changes and gravel cleanings, then bacterial infection isn't likely and constipation is the most possible cause. I would supplement their diet with spinach or zucchini slices, and wait and see.