Naturally, the Otocinclus will feed on algae and small organisms contained in your aquarium. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.191560, Otocinclus Detailed Guide: Care, Diet, and Breeding. Any leftover food not eaten in 24 hours should be removed from the aquarium. Do your best to get to that point and you can count yourself lucky to have successfully bred otos in your tank. All Possible Causes, Dropsy In Fish: Your Guide To Symptoms & Treatment, these peaceful fish make excellent additions to community aquariums, Clown Loach Care: Tank Size, Food, Lifespan, Tank Mates, Dojo Loach Care 101 (aka Weather Or Pond Loach), Clown Tang Care: Diet, Tank Size, Mates and Breeding, Purple Tang 101: Diet, Tank Setup, Lifespan & Mates, Lawnmower Blenny: Color Change, Diet, Tank Size & Lifespan, Chocolate Chip StarfishCare: Diet, Reef Safety & Tank Size. Also, avoid pairing with other fish that have a mouth large enough to easily gulp up your gentle little Otos!. An Otocinclus Catfish is an amazing little scavenger for freshwater aquariums. If your fish are experiencing a change in appetite, changing their diet may also help. A sandy substrate keeps faeces on the surface until they can be drawn to the filter and provides a good . If you have what you need, its possible to get these fish to breed in captivity. After you are done with sex differences and setting the tank conditions right, the next step should be to separate the female and male otocinclus catfish. Breeding otos in captivity is rather difficult. You can easily see that the female fish is wider than the male. Behavior. The exact number of eggs that a female otocinclus catfish has will vary. Use this method to ensure that you buy both males and females from the aquarium store. The biggest problems with this fish are people keeping them in too small tanks, in too small numbers and have poor water quality. This area should also be taller if the fish is indeed a female. Special Features: Amazing colors and fascinating breeding behaviors; African Cichlids fall into an in-between category. However, what is even more important the quarantine tank should also have a lot of algae. Ciencia y Desarrollo. Once the eggs have been laid, the otos will go back to their usual routine without worrying about the eggs. They typically live 3 to 7 years with appropriate care. Millie is a passionate aquarist who caught the fishkeeping bug in high school and has been addicted ever since. It can be tough to get otocinclus fry to survive in the tank sometimes. However . Other tank conditions also need to be near perfect for breeding to work. Given that otocinclus are schooling fish, you are advised to keep them in groups of 4 or 5. 2023 Copyright Shrimp and Snail Breeder, Otos, Ottos, Dwarf suckers, Oto cat, Dwarf Suckermouth, Dwarf Sucking Catfish, and Midget Sucker Fish, They typically live 3 to 7 years with appropriate care. Furthermore, the pH value must be between 5.5 and 7.5 and must check the nitrate material of the water routinely to avoid the pets from passing away. We just love these little guys! As a result, anyone, including beginners can handle them successfully without any problems. When the breeding process begins, the female will assume the mating position with the male fish. The fish also has horizontal stripes across the head as well. They have a black body with silver markings and are popular for their peaceful temperament and interesting behavior. Feature and behavior: . Nitrosomas that eat Ammonia will begin to grow in the tank and produce. These tiny catfishes are also known as Otos, Oto cats, Midget sucker fish, and Dwarf . Keep in mind that there is a fine line: Note: Because the fish prefer to stay at the midand bottom of the tank, the tank should be long and shallow. Like any animal, poor care and living in a stressful environment can significantly impact their life expectancy. There is also a noticeable blotch found on the tail portion of this Oto variety. Unfortunately, the problem with Otocinclus species is that they do not do very well in a small and bare quarantine tank. Youll see the fish enter a T-shaped position that signifies that they are mating. Here are all the links I could find online so far in regard to breeding otocinclus: Spawning behavior by a fellow aquarist in Sweden. Otocinclus breeding tank - The Oto Journal 20long - Otocinclus Juvenille tank 29g - Cherry barbs, Oto's, Long finned danios, Spotted cory's, 2 Bristlenose plecs 55g - High Fin Pleco, Harlequin Rasboras This is very useful in their natural habitat of rivers with currents. Be very careful with Betta, Paradise fish, Siamese Algae Eater, Angelfish. Best regards, These fish have a "golden" brown back with a cream stomach and a black stripe down the side of the torso. You should avoid pairing these peace-loving fish with fish that are known to be aggressive in nature. Even if it is an amazing Otocinclus. Although Otos prefer oxygenated water, no special air pumps are required for aquarium life. You will definitely need appropriate LED lighting for the plants and algae to grow. In addition, they are highly susceptible to tank changes and need extra attention in the first few weeks. We highly recommend that you add some to your freshwater tank if you have tank mates that are a good fit. These flakes will decay, and Ammonia will be produced. It isnt unusual for otos to produce eggs that have a yellow or sort of green coloration either. Sad fact: Do you know that almost all Otocinclus are wild-caught? Water parameters are also essential to a successful breeding. Some compatible tank mates are Pygmy Cory, Boraras, Panda Garra, Dwarf Gouramis, Albino Bristlenose Pleco, Royal Farlowella, Neon tetras, Harlequin Rasboras, Ruby Tetras, Dwarf Ember Barbs, Guppies, Endlers, Medaka Ricefish, and Rasbora. There are many different types of Otocinclus, and these peaceful fish make excellent additions to community aquariums due to their non-aggressive temperament. Best Algae Eating Team, You can also read my article Step-by-Step Cycling your Shrimp Aquarium Fishless. The body of the Labido Cichlid is stocky and slightly elongated. Also, they react to changes in their environment easily. Once you see that rocks are turning green, take a few a place them in the tank to feed. Most varieties of Otocinclus are small with adults rarely growing more than 2 inches in size. Thank you for your article on Otocinclus. Theres a good chance that you have at least one male and one female, but you might not be able to tell the fish apart. They usually inhabit small streams or shallow rivers and often associated with densely vegetated waters. Novices who arent used to breeding fish might not get the best results. Second, these fish have a unique protective behavior. Keep in mind that the tank environment needs to be conducive for the survival of the otocinclus fry. It takes otocinclus catfish a while to reach sexual maturity. As with Corydoras catfish, Otos appear to use a "T-position" when breeding. This means theyre unlikely to get themselves into trouble in your tank. If you want to breed these fish, its best that you approach this situation with the right expectations. Neotropical Ichthyology. However, I would not recommend Otocinclus fish for beginners as they can also be a challenge to keep alive. Examples of fish to avoid include many Chichlids or the feisty Oscar. There are some reports that Otocinclus really like Repashy Soilent Green (check the price on Amazon). Keeping the tank clean is essential for any successful breeding to take place. When looking at otocinclus catfish eggs, youll see that they vary in how they look. 2006. Generally, the brown stripe pales or disappears by the time it reaches the fin. Breeding. These, Why Your Betta Fish Is Laying At The Bottom Of The Tank, Why Is My Goldfish Turning White? Also, the otocinclus catfish have a tough cup-like shaped mouth and transparent fins that make them unique among other tank fish. Spirulina powder and algae should be their food. 4. A healthy Otocinclus Catfish can live for 5-7 years. Daphnia, algae wafers, and brine shrimp are all excellent food choices when you wish to breed your Otocinclus. Oto should also not share a tank with tank mates that share an aggressive temperament because you may find your Oto wounded. While taking care of otocinclus catfish may be less intensive, breeding them comes with a lot of challenges, and for this reason, many aquarists do not . Others will not reach sexual maturity until they are one year old. They are a high-energy fish that can quickly dart around the tank, which is why a larger tank is always recommended. Lastly, theyre a breeze to care for. As a result, the eggs will hatch after a few days and sooner or later you will start seeing the fry swimming in the breeding tank while looking for food. There isnt any true evidence to say that this has an impact. Some enthusiasts believe that otos breed seasonally. So-so against hair algae. Otocinclus are very sensitive to copper. Put there a lot of small rocks like marble chips and ceramic filter media (The rocks should be clean and aquarium safe, of course). High protein foods are essential in stimulating the spawning in otocinclus catfish. They are a popular option for aquariums of all sizes due to their peaceful nature, entertaining shoaling behaviors and their algae eating abilities. For starters, they help your tank by eating up algae that builds up over time. Snail Sleep: A Closer Look at Their Resting Behavior. Yes, they are absolutely safe to keep in planted tanks. Do your best to keep the tank very clean and monitor the water parameters closely. No, otocinclus catfish are not easy to breed at all. They are also diurnal and enjoy quickly swimming around the tank. They need to see their buddies in all places to feel safe. Otos try to stay out of the way for the most part. by James0816 Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:32 pm. Thread starter James0816; Start date Aug 31, 2007; . They should never be placed in a tank with Otocinclus. Running water is actually an. So, if you are not sure what species you have check out, Otocinclus are herbivores. I started with 3 otos and sadly one of them died. After a period of one week has elapsed, you can bring your male and female otocinclus catfish in the same tank to initiate the spawning. The whole process including macro footage of the fry. Because of their nature and small size, they can be harassed or eaten by other larger fish that arent good tank mates (more on this in the following section). Theyre also very docile and get along with almost any other freshwater aquarium species. Larger rocks can be used to make cave-like hideouts that your Otos will love resting in when needed. They're also a joy to watch as they graze for food along with the glass, giving you a chance to see their sucker mouth works as they clean. Otocinclus are quite sensitive to variations in parameters as well as to water quality. Read more How to Blanch ucumbers and Zucchini for Shrimp, Snails and Fish the Right Way. Its simply based on anecdotal evidence from people who have bred otos in their fish tanks in the past. The fish also create high interaction with other fish in the tank, provided they are compatible. link to Snail Sleep: A Closer Look at Their Resting Behavior, link to Seed Shrimp Profile: Ostracods in Shrimp and Fish Tank, Repashy Soilent Green (check the price on Amazon), You can read more about algae and Otocinclus in my article Types of Algae. Extra attention in the tank, which is Why a larger tank always! 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