What sort of 'Giant Oto' is this?

Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 02 Jan 2015, 20:37

Today I went fish-shopping a bit further afield than normal, as I wanted some Otos and my two regular shops hadn't had any for ages.
I lucked out because the place I went to had 4 different species described as 'dwarf oto', 'zebra oto', 'tiger oto' and 'giant oto'.

In the end I bought 5 of the the ones described as 'giant oto'. The assistant seemed moderately clued-up and said that they were 'Otocinclus giant'. I spent a while searching online (including here) before buying, and concluded they were actually more like a Hypoptopoma species.

Am I right with the genus, and can anyone suggest which species they are?
Some sources suggest that the 'giant oto' is normally but these fish look too spotty, perhaps ?
I measured one on the glass and it was 47mm from nose to tip of tail.

I've attached three pictures and will try to get better ones if needed once they have settled in. They look a bit skinny at the moment so hopefully they'll get eating.

Many thanks,

Paul

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 02 Jan 2015, 20:44

?

Jools

Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 02 Jan 2015, 20:54

That's definitely a possibility - thanks!
I'll try to get some better pics of them over the next couple of days.
Cheers,
Paul

Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 02 Jan 2015, 21:05

3 more pics for now. They seem to have a distinctive black line along the head which peters out behind the eye.

Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 03 Jan 2015, 17:57

Here's another picture I've just taken, with a 'Giant Oto' doing exactly what I wanted them to! You can see where he's been in the clean-up operation

I am leaning towards because of the stripe pattern on the head.

Any more thoughts?

Many thanks,
Paul

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 03 Jan 2015, 18:01

I would tend to agree, mostly because of the black line in the middle of the caudal. Great to see the fish coloured up nicely.

Jools

Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 03 Jan 2015, 18:08

Thanks Jools!

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drago · Post by **drago** » 04 Jan 2015, 14:44

At such an identification it isn't possible to be influenced by belts or lines, independently whether black or red. The Hypoptoma kind has a wide caudal hard core. From the side appearance the most he is reminding Oxyropsis which thinner caudal hard core he also has. However the shape of the face shown from the bottom fits none of these kinds. So it is most probably new indescribable still kind.

Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 04 Jan 2015, 15:53

Thanks for your observations. I will try and get some more good photos of them and post here.
I will contact the shop and see if they can provide any more information on where the fish came from.
Thanks again,
Paul

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Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 04 Jan 2015, 20:49

More pics:

Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 04 Jan 2015, 20:54

And finally for now, 3 more pics.

They are doing a marvellous job eating the algae, and don't seem to have offended my yet, though she's keeping a close eye on them...

Thanks,

Paul

drago · Post by **drago** » 05 Jan 2015, 20:30

The face from the bottom looks like the pear a bit, resembles to me nothing known. I on your place would be pleased, you have something unknown. I am doubting that somebody here identifies the one species.

Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 05 Jan 2015, 21:28

Thanks drago!
I've been looking at the shape of the face on the profiles online and I agree it doesn't match - more of a pointed nose rather than the rounded shape of the Oxyropsis and Hypoptopoma species.

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Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 03 Feb 2015, 22:02

My group of Giant Otos has settled in well over the past month. I had the chance tonight to take a few nice portaits of one eating a chunk of red pepper. I'm posting them here just in case they help provide an ID, or if not they are at least a better record of the species.

Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 19 Feb 2015, 15:10

The shop has checked and these came in from Peru.
I'm not sure if that helps an ID?

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Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 16 Jul 2015, 19:52

It's been a while since I started this thread, just thought I'd post a brief update. All 5 fish are still doing really well in what is otherwise a Congo community tank, very active and visible and they eat pretty much everything. The biggest one is now 70mm TL (approx 60mm SL).
They don't seem especially social fish, usually hanging out in singles scattered around the tank. Equally they don't fight.
I'm still really pleased with these guys!

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 20 Jul 2015, 15:33

They are nice fishes. I am confident in saying they're the same species as , however that is likely a new sp. from Peru. I am not sure, really, if that is a Hypoptopoma or an Oxyropis but I see you've registered your fishes in that species, so once we do know more, it will change with it.

Did I pick up correctly that I can use the images in the thread for the cat-elog?

Cheers,

Jools

Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 20 Jul 2015, 23:08

Jools,
Thanks for the info. Please feel free to use any of my pictures on PC.
Cheers,
Paul

Mol_PMB · Post by **Mol_PMB** » 03 Aug 2015, 22:48

This evening I saw two of these on the glass close together, and to my eyes at least there is a distinct difference in the width around the 'hips' (sorry, I'm not up with fishy technical language). I wonder if this is a difference between male and female?

They've been busy munching on the red bell pepper again, which is definitely their favourite 'artificial' food.