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

Contents 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, whereas the Otocinclus do not.

[edit] Diet

Herbivores with a preference for eating algae. Feed them zucchini (courgette) or spinach if there isn't enough algae in their tank.

[edit] Behaviour

Being small herbivores they need to eat constantly. 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, which are often found on slow and high-backed fish.

[edit] Requirements

Planted tank, preferably with large smooth vertical surfaces to hold onto.

[edit] Videos

Many of the Otocinclus found in stores are 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.

Pair of Otos mating

[edit] Links

• Otocinclus.de
• Otocinclus.com