Otto (?? - 14 Nov 2008) was an Ottocincla or Ottocinclus algae eater that we've bought to help with the algae. It was our first ottocincla and we found it to be a very special fish in the tank because it was the fish that befriended a different species of fish in the tank.

We bought these 2 friends together, that was otto & bino (an albino corydoras). Otto was black, while Bino is white (Bino is still alive). Because both of them are quite expensive, so, we bought only 1 of each, rather than a pair. Bino is to help with food dropped to the bottom of the tank.

I guess due to loneliness, these 2 different fishes, stayed together and befriended each other in the tank. They will sleep together. Sometimes, on top of each other.. hahaha.

CK & I thought, we should get them a partner each, so that, they won't feel lonely, especially Otto, because we sensed its loneliness. It was not working on the tank. And always sleeping. We started by getting Otto a friend. Otto was so happy & it started working so hard, played with the new friend, stayed with it, but it never forget Bino. It will still find Bino and sleep together when it was not play time. During that time, we couldn't find a friend for Bino, because, there wasn't any stock in the fish pet shop. We had to wait. But Bino seemed fine with Otto still not neglecting it even though, it had a new friend now.

After a week, Otto's friend started to act weird and it died in the end. It was only a week in the tank. I was worried for Otto; afraid that it will feel sad for losing a friend. We wanted to quickly get a new friend but no stock was available. Luckily, Otto still has Bino.

Last month, finally there were stock for Albino Corydoras and we quickly bought a friend for Bino. Bino was very attached to this new friend and it started to ignore Otto. Bino does not sleep with Otto anymore.

But Otto did not gave up. It will squeeze itself between Bino & its friend and slept with them. Sometimes, the Binos will try to get rid of Otto by going to a different spot. But Otto will follow & slept near them or behind them. Looking at this, CK & I asked the pet shop owner about the ottocincla & to our surprise, new stocks were available the next week.

So happy that we can finally get a friend for Otto again, we quickly put them together. But Otto, were not that receptive to this new friend. It preferred to be with the Binos. We also noticed that Otto's mouth started to bleed and it acted more like the Binos than itself. We thought that it was having a personality disorder. I guessed it was trying to please the Binos too much in order to blend in with them and started to hurt itself. Or maybe, Otto was afraid that this new friend will leave it again, therefore, try not to be too close. We could see however, Otto did try to play with the new ottocincla but in the end, still sleep with the Binos.

This morning, when I found it dead, I was pretty sad that I ignored its need to be with friends. So, for fish lovers, please buy them in pairs, so that, the fishes are happy in the tank.

I don't think I will come across another fish like Otto. Good bye, Otto!