Otocinclus macrospilus

Special note

 * These peaceful community fish are often starving when you see them in the average pet shop and consequently they have a reputation of having a high mortality rate within the first month of ownership.


 * Some may have adopted a bad habit of scavenging for food by eating the slime coating of other fish.


 * Ensure that you look at their bellies carefully in the shop and if they look very thin or hollow bellied then tell the shop to feed them more algae tablets or sliced fruit. These fish need to eat all the time.


 * When you get them home (don't just own one or two), let them settle into a quiet tank and put in plenty of algae tablets and a sliced piece of fruit (see diet section) for them to chew on. The first month is fairly critical.