These guys can make a significant impact on the quality of the water in your freshwater aquariums. Other tank conditions also need to be near perfect for breeding to work. Fast-growing plants typically consume dissolved nutrients and carbon dioxide before algae have an opportunity to feed and grow. Snail Sleep: A Closer Look at Their Resting Behavior. Even so, its something that can be done with the right approach. As already stated, Otocinclus varieties of fish tend to be calm and docile in temperament. How Do You Know If Otocinclus Are Breeding? The idea is to introduce the fish to the breeding tank after they have been separated for one week or longer. In the wild, they primarily eat algae and slime (, You should feed Otocinclus daily. Your email address will not be published. The eggs can be quite transparent sometimes. 2006. They also have an unofficial name called "dwarf suckers". Behavior & Temperament. As for now, theres only anecdotal information to go on. The female will lay her eggs in the tank and the male will fertilize them. The Otocinclus is omnivorous with a strong vegetal tendency. 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. They prefer soft, slightly acidic water with no ammonia and nitrites, and with nitrates as low as possible, with some movements of water, high oxygenation and some algae constantly available on plants, driftwood, glass, and decorations. If you are still unsure about the gender of your fish, you can always consult with a local fish expert. To cycle your tank takes anywhere from 4 weeks to 2 months. You might want to get some more otos for your tank sometime soon. Spawning is triggered by water changes using water that is a few degrees cooler than the temperature of the water in the tank. 2004 scielo.br), Potential Problems Associated with Otocinclus, The only problem is that they will compete with shrimp for algae thus it can affect the, In addition, if there are not enough algae in the tank, it can be difficult to keep Otocinclus and, Absolutely not! Otocinclus catfish are known to exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism. Congratulations! These Otocinclus Catfish happily swim around with their round bellies, feeding on the tank or provided algae. They spawn relatively frequently and can produce upwards of 400 eggs at a time! Otocinclus Catfish Breeding. Its uncommon for them to breed in captivity, but it might happen if the conditions are right. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. Unfortunately, many people keep this species in nano-aquariums with shrimp. 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. Otocinclus is a social fish. These fish have a complex hierarchy and are usually female alpha. A couple of tank mates that people like to pair with Otos are Amano or Cherry shrimp. Otocinclus species have very small dentition meaning that they are not physically capable of damaging the vast majority of plants. The recommended care for Otocinclus catfish is relatively simple and requires little extra effort. Second, these fish have a unique protective behavior. These fish wont become aggressive towards other fish. Once they lay them, they leave them. The male will then fertilize the eggs. Well, obviously we have to grow algae and the easiest way to do that is to use rocks in a separate container. Otocinclus catfish behavior. The snail will be laying the eggs on a firm surface. Once the two fish are in the breeding tank together, they might begin the mating ritual. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about breeding the fish in a fish tank. They have been bred in tanks before, but its not the simplest process. If you want to breed these fish, its best to approach things very specifically. They've been breeding for getting close to a year now. Try to feed them very tiny pieces of zucchini. Examples of foods that contain high proteins include live foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia and also algae wafers. Otocinclus are a genus of catfish native to South America and some species are quite common in the aquarium hobby. They usually inhabit small streams or shallow rivers and often associated with densely vegetated waters. As I have already mentioned, Otocinclus are a schooling fish and need to be in groups of their own kind. Theyre found in tanks, The Dojo Loach (aka Weather Loach or Pond Loach) is one of our all-time favorite freshwater species. Otocinclus eggs take three to four days to hatch after theyve been fertilized. Your mating tank should be at least 80 liters (20 gallons) to be able to hold all the soon-to-be-born fry. Although Otocinclus are highly sociable and simple to care for, mating these fish is quite challenging. I have to start off by saying that Otos are sensitive, and a poor choice for the first inhabitants. The other fins are typically transparent in color. The Otocinclus have intermediate care needs. They typically grow to be about two inches long and are often used as algae eaters in aquariums. Preferably, the water should be slow-moving with high oxygen levels. Breeding otocinclus in aquaria is still in its early days, and it would be a great thing to achieve in your tank. The fish should then be transferred into the main aquarium using the drip acclimation method (read more about it here). Otocinclus can be known as dwarf suckers or Oto catfish. Learn more. Unfortunately, Zebra Danios don't exhibit any parental behaviors. Choose the right mating pair (Step -1) Preparing the tank (Step-2) Your email address will not be published. Re: Otocinclus Breeding. They are, however, a little bit tricky to keep. Required fields are marked *. The temperature of the water must be 21 to 25 degrees Celsius, the value of KH must be 3 to 16, and the value of GH must range between 2 to 18. Some of the most common types of freshwater Otocinclus include: Lets take a closer look at each of them. However, they can be a little reclusive at times and providing places to hide will help make them feel secure. Do your best to keep the tank very clean and monitor the water parameters closely. Use any fertilizer to grow plants in a 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. If you are breeding, you should choose a couple that has features and markings that you would want passed on to the offspring. They tend to graze on algae and often stay in groups to better protect themselves from larger fish. These little guys should have nice round bellies but not too big that it looks like it is going pop. However, the average number is fifty. Otocinclus catfish is also known as dwarf fish, Oto Catfish or simply referred to as otos. Breeding Otocinclus vestitus. 2002DOI: 10.1643/0045-8511(2002)002[1063:OTANHC]2.0.CO;2, Otocinclus batmani, a new species of hypoptopomatine catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from Colombia and Peru. 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 chasing game will go on for a while before the male catches up with the female to start the mating process. TABLE OF CONTENTS Otocinclus Catfish Facts & Overview Appearance & Behavior Oto Catfish Care & Tank Requirements Tank Mates If the breeding process is successful, you will see small fry swimming close to the bottom after a few days time. This species exhibits additional interesting behaviors. Some of the popular fish as tank mates. Lastly, theyre a breeze to care for. Breeding otos in captivity is rather difficult. Behavior of Otocinclus. Others say that its better to separate the breeding fish in different tanks or compartments for one or two weeks first. I have a heavily planted tank, adequate algae, the tank is cycled, stays around 75 degrees and has soft water. You should feed Otocinclus daily. After youre finished reading, you can decide if youd like to pursue breeding the fish. Getting these fish to breed will not be simple. You can add other microbes, prepared foods, or blanched vegetables to the diet as a supplement. When a female is ready to breed you will see it swimming along the rocks in the tank. These fish have a "golden" brown back with a cream stomach and a black stripe down the side of the torso. When Ammonia and Nitrite levels go back to 0, your cycle is complete. This involves feeding them algae rounds, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Sometimes the fish will swim along the sides of the aquarium as well. Some fish will reach sexual maturity in six to nine months. 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 best substrate for the tank is soil, sand, and smooth gravel. However, I would not recommend Otocinclus fish for beginners as they can also be a challenge to keep alive. 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. The size of his body is 5-5.5 cm. Just make sure you have enough algae for everyone! Otocinclus is a popular aquarium catfish which often feeds on algae. Otocinclus graze constantly on algae on all surfaces. Otocinclus Catfish isa very peaceful fish with a huge appetite for algae. It has a brown or black body with dark spots. After at least 1 week has passed, you can introduce your couple into the mating tank and hope for the mating ritual to begin. Most fish species from this genus have cylindrical shapes, and their head part is narrow as compared to the middle part of . . Do not use and avoid medication, or plant fertilizer that contains Copper of any form. In some cases, the schoolscan have hundreds or even thousands of fish. Do your best to get to that point and you can count yourself lucky to have successfully bred otos in your tank. Otocinclus Catfish Spawning Behavior Watch on 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. Millie is a passionate aquarist who caught the fishkeeping bug in high school and has been addicted ever since. by James0816 Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:32 pm. The point is that these filters have a very large surface area where Otocinclus can feed on. Sometimes the fish will swim along the sides of the aquarium as well. The eggs should hatch and begin their lives as fry after a few days. Please always ask a veterinarian for help regarding your pets. However, it can be done if luck is on your side and you keep a healthy tank. So, success keeping them is less likely in such tanks. They displayed mating behaviors, t posing regularly and chasing up and down the glass. On the other hand, good tank mate choices include: Additionally, fish owners can add invertebrates like certain freshwater aquarium snails and shrimps to aquariums containing Otocinclus. Before introducing your Otos, your tank should be cycled, fully established, and have algae growth for sustenance. These fish lay a sticky group of 4 to 6 eggs at a time. 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. It'll swim up and down the rocks and the male fish will be in close pursuit. They are also adaptable and can withstand changes in their environment better than other fish of their smaller size. 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. One of the most widespread and common species of Otocinclus, this variety can be found throughout the regions of South America sometimes even in parts of the Amazon River where other fish of their size tend to avoid. Once the eggs have been laid, the otos will go back to their usual routine without worrying about the eggs. Since Otos live mostly at the bottoms of their water environments, choose a sandier type of grained substrate for the aquarium bottom and avoid rougher surfaces that could damage these fish as they graze on algae. These fish are vertebrates, meaning that their body structure is made up of a row of bones. 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