Category:Otocinclus

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Contents	Top · 0-9 · A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

An Otocinclus vittatus

1 About Otocinclus
2 Alternative names
3 Species
4 Paraotocinclus
5 Diet
6 Behaviour
7 Requirements
8 Videos
9 Links

[edit] About Otocinclus

Otocinclus or Otos for short, are a small non-agressive algae eating catfish about 3-5cm (1.2-2") long.

[edit] Alternative names

Dwarf Oto, Dwarf Suckers. Pronounced "auto SINK luss"

[edit] Species

There are a number of species in this genus.

Otocinclus macrospilus - The most common species found in the pet shop.
Otocinclus affinis - Most web sites misidentify this species with O. macrospilus.
Otocinclus vittatus
Otocinclus cocama
Otocinclus flexilis
Otocinclus hoppei
Otocinclus mariae
Otocinclus vestitus
Otocinclus huaorani
Otocinclus bororo
Otocinclus xakriaba
Otocinclus mura
Otocinclus mimulus
Otocinclus hasemani
Otocinclus caxaxari
Otocinclus tapirape
Otocinclus negros

[edit] Paraotocinclus

There are also species that go by the name Paraotocinclus (for example the PitBull pleco), and can be mislabelled as Otocinclus when young. They are different from Otocinclus in that the Paraotocinclus have an adipose fin, where as the Otocinclus do not.

[edit] Diet

Herbivores with a preference for eating algae. Zucchini (courgette) or spinach should be feed to them if there isn't enough algae in your tank.

[edit] Behaviour

Being small herbivores they need to constantly eat. So they spend most of their time on the glass or on plant leaves using their sucker mouth to hold on.

Very placid animals that like to be in a group.

They have been known to be a small threat to slow-moving and high-backed fish such as the Discus and Angelfish as, with many suckermouth catfish, they can develop a taste for slime coats, of which slow and high-backed fish are prime targets for.

[edit] Requirements

Planted tank, prefers large smooth vertical surfaces to hold onto.

[edit] Videos

99% of Otocinclus found in stores is wild caught. This is a video of Otos being wild caught in Venezuela, only a small percentage of these fish will survive to make it to tanks in stores in the West.