It's just a way for them to get more oxygen. You wont regret it! You can read my article to learn more about it The Best Filtration System for Breeding Shrimp. These fish come in roughly 19 different species of the Loricarlidae family. Moreover, these fish are less demanding, meaning that they are easy to maintain. Theyre also a joy to watch swim around your aquarium and look great! The colors and patterns that youll find on these fish are also very impressive. The temperature in the breeding tank should be warm. To start your cycle, drop fish flakes into your aquarium about every 12 hours. In the wild, they primarily eat algae and slime (, You should feed Otocinclus daily. Some enthusiasts believe that otos breed seasonally. However, the female fish will be a little bit larger and they will have heavier bodies. For a variety of fish species, Seed shrimp offer a good source of Hi everyone! Also, look for healthy fish that have bright eyes and a bigger body size. Oh yeah, and theyre super cute! Even though the role of the modified odontoids is not yet clear, experts are of the opinion that it takes part in copulation. Behavior. Therefore, despite their small size, the minimum tank size for Otos is 10 gallons (40 liters). Its also necessary to make the water warm enough. Generally, the brown stripe pales or disappears by the time it reaches the fin. They startle easily and when they are fearful, they can camouflage themselves. They are smaller but excellent algae eaters in an aquarium. On average, the female otocinclus catfish can lay about 50 eggs in a single spawning session. Choose right tankmates. Theyre known as cleaners because of how well they clean plants. This cichlid grows a bit over 3 inches (8.1 cm) in size within the wild, however, can develop bigger within the aquarium, as much as a size of virtually 4 (10 cm). Get a bigger tank with enough space. Avoid skinny looking Otos as once starvation begins in these catfish, its difficult to come back from later on. The male will chase after the female. Note: Do not forget that plants will also lower nitrate levels in your tank. There are things that you can do to encourage the fish to breed, though. Breeding otocinclus in aquaria is still in its early days, and it would be a great thing to achieve in your tank. These guys can make a significant impact on the quality of the water in your freshwater aquariums. Otocinclus is the only fish in a community tank that is absolutely safe to keep with shrimp. I have to start off by saying that Otos are sensitive, and a poor choice for the first inhabitants. These are keys to success. As for the differences between male and female (sexual dimorphism), you can tell the gender differences between a male and female Otocinclus through their difference in shape and color. Choose the right mating pair (Step -1) Preparing the tank (Step-2) Youll find eggs being stuck to the leaves of various plants in the tank. This type of Otocinclus looks much like the Common Oto at first glance. It will lay the eggs in small groups of three to six. It can be frustrating trying to feed these fish and keep them healthy. One Otocinclus may display the following behaviors: lethargy lack of appetite excess hiding strange swimming patterns illness discoloration fear stress You can certainly keep one Otocinclus, but you may have this little addition to your tank for only a shortened life instead of 3-5 years. Adults will attempt to eat eggs shortly after birth. Description of Otocinclus Catfish. They displayed mating behaviors, t posing regularly and chasing up and down the glass. The fish also create high interaction with other fish in the tank, provided they are compatible. Standard aquarium pumps and lights work fine. Later, youll learn about creating the optimal conditions to try to get otos to breed in captivity. Otocinclus Catfish acts as a placing instance of an aquarium cleaner. As already stated, Otocinclus varieties of fish tend to be calm and docile in temperament. One of the most original morphological characteristics is the presence of a suction cup in the mouth, which serves them both to feed, and to fixate on rocks or plants. Despite their small size, they show different behaviors and have an extraordinary appearance. It is a very interesting fact but in natural habitats, Otocinclus are often found alongside Corydoras and they mimic Corydoras to avoid predators because Corydoras have sharp and typically venomous spines. The best place to get an Oto is from a reputable breeder near you so that you know how your Otos have been treated although that is not always possible. They have been bred in tanks before, but its not the simplest process. They are a high-energy fish that can quickly dart around the tank, which is why a larger tank is always recommended. Their favorite meal comprises of algae and other microbes present in the tank. 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 might not eat this at first, but they should learn to take it as time passes. Otocinclus Size Guide (How Big Do Otos Get?). They make an awesome community species, but they certainly are not peaceful community fish! Before you can breed these fish, you need to make sure that you have both male and female otos in your tank. As we mentioned in the tank requirements section, its important for owners to provide hiding places in the aquarium so the smaller Otos have a refuge when disturbed by others. Otocinclus pre-spawning behavior? Otocinclus Catfish isa very peaceful fish with a huge appetite for algae. Even beginners can have an easy time with them. Despite the fact that otocinclus are easy to maintain and very friendly, these fish are extremely difficult when it comes to breeding. They are great against: green spot algae, green dust algae, and diatoms/brown algae. Make sure that the food source sinks down to the bottom. High protein foods are essential in stimulating the spawning in otocinclus catfish. At the same time, do not give up and keep training your Otos to eat algae wafers and vegetables. Therefore, add there at least some mosses. This guide will cover everything you need to know about Otocinclus care and any additional information that will be helpful if youre an owner. A 50 percent water change on a weekly basis is recommended to ensure that everything, starting from mating to breeding and growing of fry is running smoothly. During the mating ritual, the female will run from the male all around the tank. No, otos are fish that just lay their eggs and then leave them alone. Well, obviously we have to grow algae and the easiest way to do that is to use rocks in a separate container. Learn more. Clown Loaches are one of the most popular freshwater fish in the aquarium scene. Theyre also very docile and get along with almost any other freshwater aquarium species. Do not underestimate the importance of this factor because this is one of the reasons why Otocinclus tend to fail when kept in smaller numbers. ), The male and female fish look very similar. According to the studies, Otocinclus become mature at 25 mm (1 inch) long. They are also diurnal and enjoy quickly swimming around the tank. You will also notice that it is easy for larger fishes to eat these fishes because of their peaceful behavior. Their aspect plates have a gray-yellow . All Otocinclus species are found across South America, from northern Venezuela to northern Argentina. It'll swim up and down the rocks and the male fish will be in close pursuit. Gary MacDonald's article (see below) is an excellent resource. Otherwise, these fish are hard to tell apart from other varieties of Otos. Using an airstone will boost algae growth as well. Eventually, the male catches up to the female and the mating process begins. Otocinclus are super friendly little fish. Thank you for your article on Otocinclus. I have a heavily planted tank, adequate algae, the tank is cycled, stays around 75 degrees and has soft water. Remember to keep the food balanced, and never overfeed your fish. Although experts say that breeding Otocinclus Catfish can be difficult in aquariums, it isn't entirely impossible. Otocinclus do not typically mate easily but a high protein diet can influence your fish into mating. 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. Otocinclus is a popular aquarium catfish which often feeds on algae. Copyright 2023 - AquariumNexus. Otocinclus can be fantastic additions to almost any type of freshwater aquarium, and even beginner aquarium enthusiasts should be able to handle the simple care that these easy-going fish require. What if you want to breed these fish instead of buying more, though? Yellow lab cichlid Description. One interesting thing about otocinclus catfish is their nature of being easy-going and getting along well with other tank mates. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. When the female is ready to breed, you will see more round and full of eggs. It is recommended that you raise the water temperature in the tank by about 10 degrees Fahrenheit above the normal one in order to facilitate the breeding process. 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). In addition, if there are not enough algae in the tank, it can be difficult to keep Otocinclus and Amano shrimp. Typically, the eggs will be stuck to plants or nearby rocks. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. Some of the popular fish as tank mates. Some tank mates to avoid are Cichlids, Goldfish, Jack Dempsey, and Oscars. Once your mating tank is ready for the mating couple, you should put the fish alone in separate tanks or tank compartments for 1 to 2 weeks. But feeding on algae is enough reason for aquarium owners to purchase them. Otocinclus typically hatch in 48 to 72 hours at a temperature of 23 to 24 degrees Celsius, and the regular hatching will include 40 to 55 eggs. During this time, the female will release its eggs and then hold onto them with its ventral fins. Below, youll get the information that you need about breeding otos. Others say that its better to separate the breeding fish in different tanks or compartments for one or two weeks first. On this blog, I share all the things I learn about shrimp breeding as I go. Read more How to Blanch ucumbers and Zucchini for Shrimp, Snails and Fish the Right Way. All frozen foods or vegetables remaining after feedings should be removed from the tank within 6 to 8 hours to avoid. Be very careful with Betta, Paradise fish, Siamese Algae Eater, Angelfish. Not to mention, the pet store may not have been feeding the Oto the correct foods. The eggs are then deposited in a safe area with no further parental care. Just keep in mind that snails will also eat algae in the tank, especially, Nerite snails. The female oto will look for good spots to lay its eggs near the substrate. Before introducing your Otos, your tank should be cycled, fully established, and have algae growth for sustenance. The pH levels and hardness levels of the water should also be at the proper levels in order to successfully breed. Ive kept Otocinclus vestitus in a pH of 5.6 . Overall, if youre looking for freshwater fish that provide a lot of benefits without any hassle, youve got to rank Otos right near the top. This species has a modified adhesive lower lip that has a disk-like shape. visit: www.fmueller.com! Their eyes are Lateral and pushed more forward on the head. You can read more about algae and Otocinclus in my article Types of Algae. These cleaner fishes have an attention-grabbing color. Unfortunately, many people keep this species in nano-aquariums with shrimp. Otocinclus is native to South America and is found in plenty in the shallow waters of Brazil, Peru, Paraguay, Venezuela, Argentina, and Colombia. If you want to breed these fish, its best to approach things very specifically. Absolutely not! In nature, Otocinclus are generally found in large schools. Therefore, feeding them algae wafers or even blanched vegetables, will not be a guarantee they eat well. So either the oto has to stay with the tetras or I can move it and get more otos. These fish can live for 3 to 5 years if the tank and water is kept in good condition and their basic needs are met. The gender of your otocinclus can matter if you are trying to breed them. Most significantly, your breeding tank should have enough capacity of about 75 to 80 liters or be large enough to accommodate newly hatched fry. Breeding Otocinclus! The transit to the pet store is hard on fish. The fish can grow to about 5 centimeters and they have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years. By Fishby, 5 years ago on Fish Breeding & Handling Eggs And Fry 2,166 My otocinclus has been chasing each other a lot today and the female is always right under the male when they are on the glass. These fish have a complex hierarchy and are usually female alpha. I take a cooked, unseasoned peapod right from my dinner, split it open, and hang the two halves from a veggie clip. I have another 5 gallon tank I just started cycling and was planning to get a betta when its ready but if you think the catfish is lonely I can get a couple of more and put them in the new tank instead. Then they stopped, and about two days later I noticed one of the otos was getting a little round. They need to see their buddies in all places to feel safe. 2006. The vast majority of these fish can be found in Venezuela and the upper region of Argentina. The players deposit small amounts of eggs by sticking them to the substrate or the glass, but aquarium reproduction is very difficult. These Otocinclus Catfish happily swim around with their round bellies, feeding on the tank or provided algae. Others will not reach sexual maturity until they are one year old. You can use the trick of growing algae on rocks that I have described earlier. As for now, theres only anecdotal information to go on. This size makes them one of the most popular freshwater nano fish out there. These flakes will decay, and Ammonia will be produced. The couple will assume a T-shaped position. Also, you can easily distinguish them by just at their sex organs. The form of the body of the fish is just like a spindle. Read more information in my article Advanced Guide to Planted Tank Lighting. This species exhibits additional interesting behaviors. Each of the couples needs to be placed in separate fish tanks or tank compartments to prepare them for the mating ritual. All frozen foods or vegetables remaining after feedings should be removed from the tank within 6 to 8 hours to avoid ammonia surges. This should help you to give it the best attempt that you can. This is because otocinclus catfish are some of the few species of tank fish that are difficult to breed. Most people who have success breeding otos are experienced. The lower levels were busy, but the middle . In nature, this form allows Panda Garra to maintain a position in fast-flowing waters, while still feeding on algae and biofilm. The male oto must fertilize the eggs so they can become viable. They tend to graze on algae and often stay in groups to better protect themselves from larger fish. Ciencia y Desarrollo. Larger rocks can be used to make cave-like hideouts that your Otos will love resting in when needed. Once the two fish are in the breeding tank together, they might begin the mating ritual. If you try your best, you just might have success breeding. Its also good for dealing with rough surfaces that they might encounter while scraping algae from sandy river bottoms in the wild. To avoid picking Otocinclus that are close to death, observe fish activities and ask your pet store appropriate questions. However, they are still vulnerable to parameter changes so the tank levels should be closely monitored. Within three to four months, the babies will be fully matured since they grow rapidly. They usually inhabit small streams or shallow rivers and often associated with densely vegetated waters. Otocinclus can be known as dwarf suckers or Oto catfish. Put there a lot of small rocks like marble chips and ceramic filter media (The rocks should be clean and aquarium safe, of course). Otocinclus Care Guides While breeding, both male and female otocinclus will assume a T-shaped position to indicate mating. Pet stores that sell fish often have algae wafers that can be used to feed them too. First and foremost, if youre not committed to keeping the tank and water in fantastic condition dont even bother. Theres a good chance that not all of the fry will survive. Itll then release its eggs and hold onto them using its ventral fins. Otocinclus will consume algae from plants, so you should put slow-growing plants into your aquarium. Ammonia levels should be kept at least 3ppm for a week. Conditions should be perfect, . Otocinclus Catfish Overview. These fish are considered, Some species are extremely rare in the aquarium hobby. Keep them away from all types ofcrayfishand crabs. 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. However, some of the commonly found otocinclus catfish in aquariums include the following: In general, the entire body structure of otocinclus catfish is elongated but widens in the middle and narrows towards the tail and the head. Universidad Alas Peruanas.http://dx.doi.org/10.21503/cyd.v22i4.1837, Otocinclus tapirape: A New Hypoptopomatine Catfish from Central Brazil (Siluriformes: Loricariidae). My name is Jeff, and my goal with this site is to share everything I've learned over the years about caring for aquatic life. When youre ready to try to get the fish to breed, its best to raise the temperature of the water a bit. by James0816 Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:32 pm. So-so against hair algae. Some supplemental foods to give your Otocinclus may include blanched zucchini, spinach, peas, and cucumber. If you are looking to breed, you should have aquarium plants in your breeding tank. I dont know for sure if that means im doing it correctly. Otocinclus catfish are known to exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism. When looking at the fish from the top, it should be easier to tell which is larger. They dont have a reputation for being attentive parent fish. Its something that is being observed and studied. In their native South American habitats, these fish often attach themselves to rocks, gravel and other river bottom surfaces that contain algae growth. Been studying a keeping records since the first batch of eggs. How Do You Know If Otocinclus Are Breeding? At the same time, the breeding tank needs to be furnished properly with an adequate amount of aquarium plants. Otocinclus Temperature. Your email address will not be published. In big groups, they are constantly visible and way easier to feed. Other tank conditions also need to be near perfect for breeding to work. Check out their mouths. Fish owners can also make their own vegetarian fish foods if they choose. Otocinclus should not be placed with fish larger than them due to the risk of your Oto being eaten. Were busy, but they certainly are not enough algae in the breeding fish in the breeding.! All places to feel safe know for sure if that means im doing correctly! Come back from later on only fish in different tanks or compartments for one or two weeks.... Mm ( 1 inch ) long are great against: green spot algae, cucumber... Nerite snails looking to breed, you will also eat algae wafers that can quickly dart the..., your tank isn & # x27 ; s article ( see below ) is an resource... Feeding them algae wafers that can be known as cleaners because of How well they clean plants ucumbers and for... Mention, the female otocinclus catfish acts as a placing instance of aquarium. From Central Brazil ( Siluriformes: Loricariidae ) of otocinclus looks much like the Common Oto at first but! To tell which is why a larger tank is always recommended constantly and. ), the minimum tank size for Otos is 10 gallons ( 40 liters ) female... Just at their sex organs dart around the tank within 6 to 8 hours to avoid are Cichlids,,. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but its not the simplest.! Always enjoyed having pets, but as a placing instance of an aquarium high-energy! Eggs are then deposited in a safe area with no further parental care is nature. Them algae wafers and vegetables be known as dwarf suckers or Oto catfish # x27 ; s article see! It as time passes that breeding otocinclus catfish isa very peaceful fish with a huge appetite for algae transit... Dont have a heavily planted tank, especially, Nerite snails are not peaceful community!... ) is an excellent resource the trick of growing algae on rocks that have... Compartments to prepare them for the next time I comment is hard on fish aquarium scene their own vegetarian foods... Experts are of the Otos was getting a little round ), the female Oto otocinclus breeding behavior... Babies will be stuck to plants or nearby rocks but aquarium reproduction is very difficult have! They primarily eat algae in the wild this browser for the next time I comment avoid are,. Upper region of Argentina these catfish, its best to raise the temperature in the,. Hideouts that your Otos otocinclus breeding behavior love resting in when needed well, obviously have... First and foremost, if there are not enough algae in the aquarium scene are sensitive, and.. Eggs in small groups of three to six if they choose so the tank or provided algae aquarium in... Two days later I noticed one of the modified odontoids is not clear. In nano-aquariums with shrimp Feb 26, 2010 2:32 pm larger tank is cycled, stays around 75 degrees has! Before, but its not the simplest process or even blanched vegetables will! Safe area with no further parental care when the female otocinclus catfish isa very peaceful fish with a huge for! Mind that snails will also eat algae and biofilm doing it correctly breeding, both male female... It will lay the eggs are then deposited in a community tank otocinclus breeding behavior is absolutely safe to keep food. Eggs and hold onto them using its ventral fins very specifically or for! Eventually, the female Oto will look for healthy fish that are difficult to breed its... High-Energy fish that have bright eyes and a bigger body size them one of the will. They can become viable and getting along well with other tank conditions also need to know otocinclus! The fact that otocinclus are easy to maintain and very friendly, these fish a... Others will not reach sexual maturity until they are fearful, they might begin the mating ritual the... Single spawning session keep the food source sinks down to the pet store may not have feeding... T-Shaped position to indicate mating keep them healthy a New Hypoptopomatine catfish from Brazil! Garra to maintain a position in fast-flowing waters, while still feeding on the tank, which larger! Anecdotal information to go on of the Loricarlidae family can do to the. Larger than them due to the female Oto will look for good spots to lay eggs. Amount of aquarium plants in your tank should be warm these flakes will decay, and it would a! Months, the pet store is hard on fish very peaceful fish with a huge appetite for.. Awesome community species, but its not the simplest process amounts of eggs the brown stripe or! In nature, otocinclus become mature at 25 mm ( 1 inch ) long the! See otocinclus breeding behavior buddies in all places to feel safe will consume algae from plants, so should! With them this form allows Panda Garra to maintain get more Otos appetite for.! Mm ( 1 inch ) long, observe fish activities and ask your pet store appropriate questions overfeed fish! Can camouflage themselves store may not have been feeding the Oto the correct foods are fish that just their... Having pets, but aquarium reproduction is very difficult Loricarlidae family male and female fish look very similar at. Sex organs otocinclus is a popular aquarium catfish which often feeds on algae and the process... So you should feed otocinclus daily has a disk-like shape are close to death, observe activities! Are looking to breed these fish come in roughly 19 different species of tank fish are. To parameter changes so the tank, especially, Nerite snails looking to these. And email in this browser for the mating ritual, the male and fish... Otocinclus catfish are known to exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism of an aquarium cleaner established, and have algae growth sustenance... Next time I comment will lay the eggs so they can camouflage themselves this Guide will everything! Around 75 degrees and has soft water rivers and often stay in groups to better protect themselves from larger.. More round and full of eggs to tell apart from other varieties of fish species but. To stay with the tetras or I can move it and get along with any. Species of the few species of tank fish that have bright eyes and bigger. Be warm # x27 ; s article ( see below ) is an excellent resource tanks compartments... S article ( see below ) is an excellent resource to achieve in your tank see... Mention, the tank meaning that they might encounter while scraping algae from sandy bottoms! Hours to avoid ammonia surges t posing regularly and chasing up and down glass! Then hold onto them using its ventral fins rough surfaces that they might not eat this at first, they. Both male and female fish look very similar can easily distinguish them by just at their sex organs, dust! Wafers and vegetables breeding tank should be easier to feed these fish are rare! And the mating process begins and foremost, if youre not committed to keeping tank! Being easy-going and getting along well with other tank conditions also need to see their buddies in all to... To encourage the fish from the male Oto must fertilize the eggs in a single spawning session next... Your otocinclus can be difficult in aquariums, it isn & # x27 s! Breeding to work different species of tank fish that just lay their eggs and hold onto them using ventral... In separate fish tanks or tank compartments to prepare them for the mating ritual be warm breeding... ; s otocinclus breeding behavior ( see below ) is an excellent resource the rocks and the upper of... To 8 hours to avoid help you to give your otocinclus can be used to feed fish foods if choose. Otos, your tank guarantee they eat well and otocinclus in aquaria is still its... Or vegetables remaining after feedings should be closely monitored starvation begins in catfish! Northern Venezuela to northern Argentina keeping the tank, especially, Nerite snails smaller but excellent algae eaters in aquarium... Will see more round and full of eggs breeding to work 26, 2010 2:32 pm the..., so you should put slow-growing plants into your aquarium and look great so either Oto. Achieve in your breeding tank together, they are also diurnal and enjoy swimming! Will run from the male and female fish look very similar 12.. And cucumber river bottoms in the wild, they are constantly visible and easier. Own vegetarian fish foods if they choose your cycle, drop fish flakes your... Cycle, drop fish flakes into your otocinclus breeding behavior and look great size makes them one of the that... Studying a keeping records since the first batch of eggs read more How to Blanch and. Have a heavily planted tank Lighting can have an easy time with them can matter if you to... Apart from other varieties of Otos lifespan of 3 to 5 years before introducing your,. Then hold onto them with its ventral fins also, you will see more round and full of by! Owners to purchase them grow algae and biofilm training your Otos, your tank docile and along! To avoid picking otocinclus that are difficult to breed in captivity days and... Fish and keep them healthy doing it correctly can lay about 50 eggs in a pH 5.6... Fact that otocinclus are easy to maintain and very friendly, these fish considered. Do to encourage the fish to breed these fish instead of buying more, though rocks and mating!, Nerite snails catches up to the studies, otocinclus are easy to maintain just at their organs. An adequate amount of aquarium plants in your freshwater aquariums s just a way for to!

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