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🐟 Otocinclus Catfish Overview
| 🧾 Feature | 📌 Details |
|---|---|
| 🐠 Common Name | Otocinclus, Oto Catfish, Dwarf Suckermouth Catfish |
| 🔬 Scientific Name | Otocinclus spp. (commonly Otocinclus affinis, macrospilus, vittatus) |
| 🧬 Family | Loricariidae (Armored Catfish family) |
| 🌍 Origin | South America – Amazon, Orinoco, Paraná river basins |
| ⏳ Lifespan | 3 to 5 years (with proper care) |
| 📏 Size | 1.5–2 inches (3.8–5 cm) |
| 🎨 Color | Brown, beige, or silvery body with dark horizontal stripe |
👁️🗨️ Appearance
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📏 Size: Very small, slender-bodied
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🎨 Color Pattern: Pale silver belly, darker top, with a black horizontal stripe running the length of the body
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👄 Mouth: Suckermouth adapted for grazing algae
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🐚 Armor: Bony plates rather than scales
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🧠 Species Variety: Includes O. affinis, O. macrospilus, O. vittatus, and O. cocama (Zebra Oto 🦓)
😌 Behavior & Temperament
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🧘 Temperament: Extremely peaceful and shy
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🌿 Habitat Preference: Planted tanks with hiding spots
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🐾 Activity: Mostly active during the day
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🧼 Algae Cleaner: Constantly grazing on biofilm and soft algae
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🧑🤝🧑 Social: Schooling fish—thrive in groups of 6 or more
🏠 Tank Requirements
| 🌊 Requirement | 📝 Details |
|---|---|
| 🐡 Tank Size | Minimum 10 gallons for a small group; ideally 20+ gallons |
| 🌡️ Temperature | 72–79°F (22–26°C) |
| ⚖️ pH Range | 6.0–7.5 |
| 💧 Water Hardness | Soft to moderately hard (5–15 dGH) |
| 💨 Filtration | Gentle flow, well-oxygenated water |
| 🔁 Water Quality | Stable, clean, and mature tank is essential 🚨 |
| 🌿 Substrate/Decor | Sand, smooth gravel, driftwood, live plants, hiding spots |
| 💡 Lighting | Moderate (encourages algae and biofilm growth) |
🥗 Diet
Otocinclus are herbivorous grazers that feed primarily on soft algae and biofilm.
🍽️ Best Foods:
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🍃 Soft green algae & diatoms (on glass, decor, leaves)
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🥬 Blanched veggies (zucchini, spinach, cucumber)
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🍘 Algae wafers (low protein)
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🦠 Biofilm (natural microbial coating on tank surfaces)
⚠️ Not enough algae? Supplement their diet daily! Otos may starve in “too clean” tanks.
🐣 Breeding
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👫 Sexing: Females are slightly plumper; males are slimmer
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💕 Breeding in Captivity: Rare but possible in stable, peaceful, heavily planted aquariums
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🪺 Spawning: Eggs laid on glass or plant leaves
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👶 Fry: Very small; require infusoria, biofilm, or powdered veggie food
🤝 Tankmates
✅ Great with:
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🐟 Tetras (e.g., Neon, Ember)
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🐚 Corydoras
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🐠 Guppies
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🦐 Shrimp (Cherry, Amano)
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🧘 Peaceful Rasboras & Danios
❌ Avoid:
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🐊 Cichlids (aggressive or predatory types)
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🪓 Betta (some may be territorial)
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🐍 Loaches (may outcompete for food)
⚕️ Common Health Issues
Otocinclus are sensitive, especially when newly acquired.
🚨 Risks:
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💀 Starvation: Common in new setups with little algae
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💧 Poor water quality: Rapid swings in pH or ammonia can be fatal
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😟 Stress: From lack of group mates or rough handling
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🐛 Parasites: From wild-caught imports
✅ Tips:
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Quarantine new Otos
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Acclimate slowly to tank
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Keep in groups (6+)
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Ensure food availability
🧠 Fun Facts
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🧼 One of the best algae eaters for nano planted tanks!
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🦓 Otocinclus cocama (Zebra Oto) is the rarest and most expensive variant
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🔁 They "scoot" along glass and leaves using their suckermouth
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❄️ They’re sometimes called the “cleaning crew” of aquascapers
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