Mixed Oto species shoaling together?

[Teddifish]

Greetings, everyone

I have a small (10g) tank, and currently have 3 wonderful otos. I'd like to add another 3, but wonder if they would be happy shoaling together if I add 3 zebras to the ones I have now (sold as "common otos") or if they prefer to be with the same species. My trio have seemed pretty happy so far--their tank is about 50% planted, rounded gravel substrate, & Endler's as tank-makes. Thank you for your advice.

[Suckermouth]

Hmmm, I don't know if they will shoal together. IME the "common" oto species will school with other fish that have a similar lateral stripe, though; mine would school with

Pareutropius buffei

. I don't know how important the lateral stripe is in their recognition of potential schoolmates, though.

[Teddifish]

Thanks, Milton. Anyone else keep different Otos together?

[Shane]

Typically they will not. I remember seeing huge (1,000s at a time) shipments come into Bogota. If you left them alone for a bit they would sort themselves out by species in the holding tank and group at different ends of the tank. Unfortunately once you put in a net they again became a swirling mass of Otos.

I have a group of six now and one is clearly different from the other five. If frightened he will school with the others, but if left alone will hang out apart from the others.
-Shane

[Teddifish]

Thanks, Shane.

I guess this means I would be better off with 6 of one kind in my little tank, rather than 3 vittatus 3 zebra.