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This picture is of four of my otocinclus that I bought at the same store. The one in the middle, on the algae wafer, has different coloring/markings than the others. Is this just a different type of oto or is it something else entirely?

It is far from unusual to find different species of Oto in a single shipment/tank. The "odd one" is most likely a different species. Since these fish are not very valuable, the exporters just put all of them in one tub for sale, and "you get what you get".

--
Mats

The odd one out isn't the mottled guy on the alga wafer, but the guy behind him. Check the lateral pigment line and tail spot. You've got three fish of the macrospilus/hoppei group, while the center-back fish is a member of the vittatus/vestitus group.

If you check the mottled one has the same patterning as the fish on the far left and far right, he's just paler.

Since these fish are not very valuable, the exporters just put all of them in one tub for sale, and "you get what you get".

Shame that with the overall popularity of loricariids there are not more Oto specialists out there. They are inexpensive, easy to find, and almost every shipment has contaminants in it. Add to this that a group can easily be kept and bred in a small tank and you have, in many ways, the perfect group of fish to specialize in.

-Shane

Thanks for the help. Its a shame these fish are so misunderstood. I had originally purchased 6 because I was told that they don't acclimate well. One died the day I got it (but it behaved strangely from the start) but the others are doing so well.

I appreciate the help identifying them.

Hi all,
We have a very good Otocinclus breeding thread <http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... =5&t=29245>, and try and feed them some vegetables as well as wafers.

cheers Darrel

I find that the problem with otos is three-fold.

First, you need good specimens that aren't on death's door. Full bellies and an active demeanour is what you need to look for. Don't buy them if they've only been in the shop a few days.

Second, you need to keep the water warm. Despite most books that say they need cool water, they (the common ones available in the hobby) actually prefer warm water, so keep it above 26C (79F).

Third, they need loads of food, and do so much better in a mature tank. They graze on the biofilm which grows over the tank surfaces. Live plants, leaf litter and wood branches are ideal. Supplement with nori, or blanched kale. They also seem to prefer this after it's been in the tank for at least 24 hours. Remove when they lose interest.

I agree with everything racoll posted above.
They do better in warmer water than most references recommend. I usually keep mine at close to27*C/~80*F. They need to have a lot of structure such as wood and plants to provide adequate grazing surfaces covered with bio-film(periphyton).
You have to begin with healthy specimens that have already been well acclimated. Otherwise it will be you who takes the losses.
They do best when kept in as large sized groups as is practical. At least 12 to 25 specimens.

Mike_Noren wrote:The odd one out isn't the mottled guy on the alga wafer, but the guy behind him. Check the lateral pigment line and tail spot. You've got three fish of the macrospilus/hoppei group, while the center-back fish is a member of the vittatus/vestitus group.

This is correct. The wee one on the wafer just hasn't come into his own as yet. Every store I go to, I always check the Oto tanks for "contaminates". I've heard a few people picking up Cocama's that way.

As for the higher temps, it will actually shorten their life spans >78F.

Like Mike, I also look over the Otocinclus for contaminates. I have found some of my Parotocinclus spilosoma and Hisonotus this way. I have also found them among Parotocinclus jumbo.
They are rare enough so it would be quite a prize to spot an Otocinclus cocama.

Woke up this morning to find oto fry on my 10 gallon glass. Now I'm in a predicament since I don't have a larger tank to move them to. Any advice? I'd love to keep them if they survive, but I have no idea what to do! I wasn't planning on this.

Amber that is most excellent news! You can read through my journal and hopefully it will have some good information on rearing these little guys.

WooHoo!

Thanks! I've counted 10 little ones stuck to the glass and plants so far. I removed the air stone last night when I moved my betta that was sharing the tank, should I put it back in? The tank walls today have a bit of a cloudiness to them, so it actually might be helping with algae growth to have it out, but I've read somewhere that otos like a bit of a current, so I wondered if I should put it back in or if it mattered. By the way, your journal has great info!