Macrotocinclus affinis

Alternative names

 * Many websites/aquatic stores incorrectly label Otocinclus macrospilus as this species.

Sexing

 * Difficult. Females are slightly bigger than males.

Tank compatibility

 * A peaceful community fish. Will co-habit with other peaceful tank mates.

Feeding regime

 * They graze on algae virtually all the time, so ensure they get enough.

Behaviour

 * They tend to rest on any object, including the front glass so you'll get plenty of views of their underside. Prefers to keep near its own company. Will occasionally be seen sleeping, and can awake and dash about if startled.

Identification

 * Very pale body band with almost a golden sheen to it. See picture.
 * This species is often incorrectly identified. But is hard to find in the trade.
 * Most web sites incorrectly label Otocinclus macrospilus as this species.

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.


 * 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. These fish need to eat all the time.


 * When you get them home, let them settle into a quiet tank and put in plenty of algae tablets for them to chew on. The first week is fairly critical.

Pictures

 * Pictures of this species are hard to come by. If you have a picture of this species please add them here.
 * Picture on Fishbase is wrong.