The Otocinclus Catfish, often called Oto Cat, is a small and peaceful algae-eating fish that is highly valued in planted aquariums. Known for its slim body and dark horizontal stripe, this tiny catfish spends most of its time grazing on algae from glass, plants, and decorations. Because of its gentle nature and small size, it is one of the best algae eaters for nano and community aquariums.
Otocinclus Catfish thrive in well-established aquariums with plenty of plants and natural biofilm. They prefer to live in groups and are very peaceful with other fish and invertebrates, making them an excellent choice for shrimp tanks and planted setups.
What We Like About This Fish
- Excellent natural algae eater
- Very peaceful and shrimp-safe species
- Ideal for planted and nano aquariums
- Small size and attractive schooling behavior
- Recommended Tank Parameters
- Temperature: 22°–26°C (72°–79°F)
- pH: 6.0 – 7.5
- KH: 2 – 12 dKH
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons (group recommended)
- Care Guidelines
- Diet: Algae, biofilm, algae wafers, blanched vegetables, and high-quality sinking foods
- Social Behavior: Very peaceful; best kept in groups of 4–6 or more
- Origin: South America
- Average Adult Size: 3 – 5 cm (1.2 – 2 inches)
- Average Purchase Size: 2 – 3 cm (0.8 – 1.2 inches)
- Shrimp Safe: YES
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