Types of Algae Eaters: Otocinclus Algae Eater

Types of Algae Eaters: Otocinclus Algae Eater – A Otocinclus Catfish is an impressive small scavenger for freshwater aquariums. Otocinclus Catfish can also be sold as: Oto Catfish Otos, Otto Cats, Ottos, Dwarf Suckermouths, Dwarf Oto, Dwarf Ottos, Dwarf Suckers, Algae Scrapers, Macrotocinclus affinis and Otocinclus affinis. The Zebra Otocinclus has a more camouflaged look compared to more widespread Oto Catfish and is darker in color.

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Types of Algae Eaters: Otocinclus Algae Eater

It's said that Otocinclus Catfish care is relatively simple. But while care needs to be easy and straight foreword, keeping Oto Catfish may be tricky because they a fine freshwater aquarium fish. After appearing to be energetic, healthy and feeding nicely throughout the initial couple of days, Otto Cats often die soon after being added to an aquarium. Having said that, some can live over one year and grow in size…under the proper conditions and using a tiny fortune.

In terms of Otocinclus Catfish care, Ottos should be added to some clean, mature, secure and well established aquarium to be able to enable them the greatest chance of survival. Otocinclus Catfish like heavily planted tanks with a great amount of algae development that is recognized, particularly of the soft filmy and green varieties that are soft.

A Otocinclus feeds on soft algae accumulation growing on hard surfaces of the tank. That’s why its very important to make sure the tank is clean, but not “ too clean”. Otocinclus food may also include accessories for example algae wafers and also some fresh vegetables like green zucchini slices.

Zucchini pieces that are green will be eaten by some Otocinclus and some WOn't try it out for a number of days. If the Ottos do not appear to be interested, take the zucchini from the tank before it decomposes, disintegrates and creates water quality problems.

A Otocinclus Catfish is a little fish. They can grow to be about 1 1/2 – 2 inches when fully mature. Because Otocinclus Catfish size is small, they are fish that is very fast, having the ability to dart from one end of the tank to another in a flash.

Recognized Aquarium Water Is Greatest

Water Parameters: Aquarium water for Otocinclus Catfish should maintain the subsequent tropical freshwater fish range:

Water Temperature: 72 – 79 Degrees Fahrenheit

Lighting: Standard community tank light will do

Make sure you keep water well filtered and going with Ammonia and Nitrites 0 ppm, and Nitrates quite low as well. Be cautious with abrupt shifts in parameters or water temperature as they are able to actually stress Otocinclus Catfish as well as lead them to die soon afterwards.

Morphology

Their skeletons have flanges ridges and shelves that tell us they all have descended from a common ancestor.

Otocinclus also have an air-filled sac that balloons their oesophagus off and helps them ride high in the water column — armoured catfishes sink as they are really so bony — hear and additionally, it may be a primitive lung when oxygen levels are low.

We know of 17 species of Otocinclus, or 16 if, according to some ichthyologists, O. affinis is set in Macrotocinclus. Telling them apart is hard in the aquarium, but you can get some idea by looking at tail and the eye , as eyes in Otocinclus come with and without an iris diverticulum.

That is a small flap that expands or contracts to modulate the number of light let through the iris and what gives suckermouth plecs their crescent-shaped eyes.

Most Otocinclus from southern and eastern Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina (O. affinis O. flexilis, O. mimulus and O. xakriaba) and species from the rios Tocantins (O. hasemani) and Araguaia (O. tapirape) have iris flaps.

Tankmates For Otocinclus Catfish: Peaceful

Because Otocinclus Catfish are non-aggressive by nature, they will have no means to shield themselves. So its tank that is important to select partners sensibly. Otocinclus Catfish can perform well with most other community tank fish, especially Cory Catfish. Otocinclus can also do nicely in freshwater shrimp tanks and freshwater snail tanks. Snails can include the likes of Ramshorn Snails Nerite Snails, Mystery Snails, Gold Inca Snails, Ivory Snails, Malaysian Trumpet Snails and Pond Snails. Shrimp may include species like Whisker Shrimp, Vampire Shrimp, Red Cherry Shrimp, Ghost Shrimp, Amano Shrimp and Bamboo Shrimp. Its not recommended to keep Otocinclus Catfish in tanks with Goldfish Cichlids or aquarium crayfish. Roughens like Jack Dempsey Oscars, Texas Cichlids and Striped Convicts can harm, kill and eat Ottos really fast. If there's any question regarding compatibility, always check together with the shop clerk before buying.

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