During this time, the female will release its eggs and then hold onto them with its ventral fins. Females dont carry their eggs for long. Otocinclus vestitus is not an easy species to breed in captivity. When it comes to breeding them, you need to be an expert to ensure that the whole process goes on successfully. Although Otos prefer oxygenated water, no special air pumps are required for aquarium life. The short answer is yes. Spotted: 1. Its not something thats recommended for beginners to try. Neotropical Ichthyology. 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. DOI: 10.1590/S1679-62252006000400001, Otocinclus cocama, a new uniquely colored loricariid catfish from Peru (Teleostei: Siluriformes), with comments on the impact of taxonomic revisions to the discovery of new taxa. You do not want such things to rot if not eaten. My first course of action was, of course, some Otocinclus (see the author's article, "Oto Pilot: Buying, Keeping. by James0816 Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:32 pm. Behavior. If your fish are sick, you can tell by a change in appetite, inactivity, or increased respiration. 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. There is also a noticeable blotch found on the tail portion of this Oto variety. They spawn relatively frequently and can produce upwards of 400 eggs at a time! In the wild, these fish travel and live in schools which helps them stay safe as well. Copyright 2023 - AquariumNexus. All tank mates should have a gentle temperament and enjoy the same water parameters as the Otocinclus. Consider yourself very lucky if you Otocinclus can eat something other than algae! The fish are normally lighter colored with darker blotches of color. Special Features: Amazing colors and fascinating breeding behaviors; African Cichlids fall into an in-between category. Therefore, add there at least some mosses. Otocinclus Breeding Guide (Will They Breed in Captivity? visit: www.fmueller.com! breeding answer #2 Fishby 5 years ago They might also be closer to a cream color. Otocinclus catfish are a lot of fun to own. However, I would not recommend Otocinclus fish for beginners as they can also be a challenge to keep alive. The eggs are then deposited in a safe area with no further parental care. Michael, Your email address will not be published. Like any animal, poor care and living in a stressful environment can significantly impact their life expectancy. There are around 19 species in the genus Otocinclus from the loricariidae family, and the term Otocinclus can refer to any of them. It isnt unusual for otos to produce eggs that have a yellow or sort of green coloration either. This is a very small fish. First, keyhole cichlids form monogamous breeding pairs. Both of them have a round body that narrows down, reaching their dorsal and anal fins. Finally, you can look at the fish's behavior. 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. This behavior should trigger you to check all tank conditions and correct those that are not favorable for the survival of your otocinclus catfish. These are keys to success. Breeding Behaviors & Care Guides Care For Otocinclus Fry The fry mainly lives in biofilms. 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. You can easily breed otocinclus fish in a 20-gallon aquarium. Normal snail behavior. The fish should then be transferred into the main aquarium using the drip acclimation method (read more about it here). The minimum Otocinclus tank size should be around 10 gallons. Male otocinclus catfish have genital papilla with rows of modified denticles (also known as odontoids). The Otocinclus have intermediate care needs. All these organs can be seen at the bottom side of otocinclus catfish tail system. For example, break one wafer into several pieces and leave them in their favorite places overnight. Otocinclus Temperature. If you want to breed these fish, its best to approach things very specifically. Male start to chase females. Females and males have their sex organs shaped differently and their shape, size and color are also different. Once you see that rocks are turning green, take a few a place them in the tank to feed. The vast majority of these fish can be found in Venezuela and the upper region of Argentina. The male has to fertilize the females eggs normally laid out in small piles across the tank floor. Otocinclus reach sexual maturity at about 9 - 10 months old. 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. Others will not reach sexual maturity until they are one year old. In addition, this organ is meant for the otocinclus male fish orientation during the breeding process. In addition, they are highly susceptible to tank changes and need extra attention in the first few weeks. These fish wont become aggressive towards other fish. This means theyre unlikely to get themselves into trouble in your tank. Just know that this is an uncommon thing to achieve in an aquarium. Unfortunately, the problem with Otocinclus species is that they do not do very well in a small and bare quarantine tank. Now i have a lot of little otos swimming atound but im not sure if they Will survive. Otocinclus catfish have been bred in tanks. Otocinclus are quite sensitive to variations in parameters as well as to water quality. Otocinclus Catfish Overview. Since these stripes are not all perfectly straight, some people call this Otocinclus type Tiger Otos for short. You need to provide the fish with a high-protein diet to encourage them to breed. Spirulina powder and algae should be their food. . As the name suggests, this fish sports bold black and white stripes situated vertically from the back of its head down to the caudal fin. Re: Otocinclus Breeding Post by apistomaster Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:05 pm In WalMart's pet dept they sell incandescent threaded base compact fluorescent daylight(6700K) bulbs which are only about 15 watts and they run cool, last a long time and grow plants well for only about $6.00 each. They are a popular option for aquariums of all sizes due to their peaceful nature, entertaining shoaling behaviors and their algae eating abilities. The Otocinclus Catfish are small and only reach about 2 inches in size. These flakes will decay, and Ammonia will be produced. The Otocinclus is omnivorous with a strong vegetal tendency. It is a bottom-dweller that feeds on algae. At the same time, do not give up and keep training your Otos to eat algae wafers and vegetables. One interesting thing to note is that these fish prefer living in smaller rivers. How Do You Know If Otocinclus Are Breeding? 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. So, success keeping them is less likely in such tanks. However, when they feel intimidated during day time they can become more active at night. Others say that its better to separate the breeding fish in different tanks or compartments for one or two weeks first. The younger fish tend to shadow the alpha, copying their behaviors and movements. How to breed them. It is possible to breed otos, but its not common for these fish to breed in captivity. Youll find eggs being stuck to the leaves of various plants in the tank. Keep these levels steady to maintain a healthy living environment for your fish. But if you wish to give it a second thought, here is what you are supposed to know: In order to breed otocinclus catfish, there are few things to consider. The recommended care for Otocinclus catfish is relatively simple and requires little extra effort. Oto should also not share a tank with tank mates that share an aggressive temperament because you may find your Oto wounded. Appearance Otocinclus catfish are reputed for their peaceful nature, easy of maintaining them and their vibrant appearance while in the tank. Some aquarists even say that it may be best to remove the mating couple from the tank after the eggs have been laid and fertilized. Otocinclus are compatible with any freshwater snail. Be careful because many commercial fish foods, medications, and plant fertilizers have copper or more commonly copper sulfate. You might want to get some more otos for your tank sometime soon. This means females become larger and grow wider upon reaching the reproductive age. Breeding otocinclus in aquaria is still in its early days, and it would be a great thing to achieve in your tank. Your mating tank should be at least 80 liters (20 gallons) to be able to hold all the soon-to-be-born fry. You can also buy Oto online, even on Amazon. Their favorite meal comprises of algae and other microbes present in the tank. Test Nitrite and Ammonia for a few weeks. This is the best way to tell a male apart from a female at a glance. The male will then fertilize the eggs. You will also notice that it is easy for larger fishes to eat these fishes because of their peaceful behavior. Otocinclus Catfish may also be sold as: Otos, Oto Catfish, Otto Cats, Ottos, Dwarf Suckermouths, Dwarf Oto, Dwarf Ottos, Dwarf Suckers, Algae Scrapers, Macrotocinclus affinis and Otocinclus affinis.Although Otocinclus Catfish are algae eaters, they should not be confused with other similar looking fish also sold as . As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Otos are considered herbivores, which means that they are vegetarians. These are not the easiest fish to breed in captivity, but they can be achieved. Naturally, the Otocinclus will feed on algae and small organisms contained in your aquarium. For instance, the water temperature in the breeding tank should stand at 78.8 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius) for your fish to breed without difficulties. Theres a good chance that not all of the fry will survive. Unfortunately, Zebra Danios don't exhibit any parental behaviors. If you are lucky enough to witness this mating ritual, you will definitely see the female otocinclus swimming up and down rocks, tank plants, or the sides of the aquarium with their male partners in hot pursuit (literary). To start your cycle, drop fish flakes into your aquarium about every 12 hours. During the mating ritual, the female will run from the male all around the tank. Choose right tankmates. Fast-growing plants typically consume dissolved nutrients and carbon dioxide before algae have an opportunity to feed and grow. Otocinclus tend to travel in schools, and its best to have several of these fish together when setting up an aquarium environment. Currently, there are 19 known different species within this genus. Thread starter James0816; Start date Aug 31, 2007; . The gender of your otocinclus can matter if you are trying to breed them. 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. What do i feed Them?? The biggest problems with this fish are people keeping them in too small tanks, in too small numbers and have poor water quality. Make sure the water chemistry is correct, and avoid changing it as much as possible. So long as the fertilization process went properly, the eggs will hatch within three or four days. Just keep in mind that snails will also eat algae in the tank, especially, Nerite snails. Lastly, theyre a breeze to care for. Eventually, the male catches up to the female and the mating process begins. The ideal habitat will also have rounded rocks, driftwood, and/or caves to hide in. 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). Just dont expect that it will be simple since these fish are known to avoid breeding in fish tanks. Oto may be difficult to raise by new aquarium hobbyists, but experienced aquarists should be fine. 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. As a result, they do not get enough food and, eventually, get stressed. Put there a lot of small rocks like marble chips and ceramic filter media (The rocks should be clean and aquarium safe, of course). Dwarf shrimp are even more sensitive to copper than fish. Breeding Otocinclus vestitus. Some say that these fish are mature once they reach one inch long. Remember to keep the food balanced, and never overfeed your fish. This is the location where the body becomes a tail that is specifically twisted. You can also read my article Step-by-Step Cycling your Shrimp Aquarium Fishless. Once the two fish are in the breeding tank together, they might begin the mating ritual. They try, and she whips at them and then swims away. Sexing (Roberto E. Reis. Sharp gravel should be avoided because it can injure the fish. Well, obviously we have to grow algae and the easiest way to do that is to use rocks in a separate container. Personally, I would recommend a Matten filter (or sponge filter). Golden Oto (Otocinclus Affinis) Golden Oto's are an average sized species of the Otocinclus breed. In addition, if there are not enough algae in the tank, it can be difficult to keep Otocinclus and Amano shrimp. Some supplemental foods to give your Otocinclus may include blanched zucchini, spinach, peas, and cucumber. 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. 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