(Please note that the fish shown in the photo is only a representative of what an adult specimen would look like. The color may vary based on the age and sex of the fish you receive.)
Scientific Name: Otocinclus vittatus
Common Name: Otos, Suckermouth Catfish
Adult Size: 2 inches
Life Expectancy: 6 - 8 years
Habitat: Thailand
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallon
Ideal Tank Conditions:
- Temperature Range: 70 - 74°F
- pH Range: 7.2 – 7.5
- Hardness Range: 4 - 7
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet & Nutrition: Herbivore; diet consists of eating algae and other small particles. It's best to feed them algae, since they're used to eating the same thing in their natural habitat. Their diet can also be supplemented with veggies and plants. Green vegetables are best (e.g., lettuce, spinach, and zucchini) and work well if chopped up in small pieces and dropped into the tank once or twice a week. This catfish will usually eat algae that grows on the tank walls, equipment, and plants. It doesn't take long for algae wafers to disappear, so be sure to replenish the supply every few days.
Breeding & Spawning: Egg layers which are challenging to breed in captivity. More likely to breed in a planted breeding tank that provides plenty of surfaces to deposit their eggs. The females will avoid the males until they’re ready to breed. After mating, the female will then deposit her eggs on surfaces in the tank while the male follows behind to fertilize them. Neither parent will care for their eggs after they’ve been laid. Once the eggs hatch after a few days, the fry will become free-swimming and will start to feed on microorganisms in the tank. It may be beneficial to supplement their diet with infusoria and algae wafers.
Gender: Males have a skin flap on the dorsal surface of the unbranched pelvic-fin ray.