🐡 Otocinclus Otocinclus vittatus

The Otocinclus (Otocinclus vittatus) is a moderate-care, peaceful species from South America. Adults reach roughly 1.6", so plan on a minimum tank of 10 gallons. Keep the water between 72–79°F with a pH of 6–7.5. This is a schooling fish — keep a group of at least 6 so it feels secure and colors up. As a herbivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Good tankmates for Otocinclus

Neon TetraCardinal TetraRummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraSerpae TetraGuppyEndler's LivebearerPlatyGerman Blue RamBolivian RamApistogrammaZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraChili RasboraCherry BarbTiger BarbWhite Cloud MinnowDwarf GouramiBronze CoryPanda CoryAmano ShrimpNerite SnailMystery SnailMarble HatchetfishEmber TetraBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraCongo TetraBloodfin TetraDiamond TetraBuenos Aires TetraEmperor TetraSilver Tip TetraX-Ray TetraGreen Neon TetraCelestial Pearl DanioLambchop RasboraScissortail RasboraPearl DanioGlowlight DanioGold BarbOdessa BarbCheckerboard BarbFive-Banded BarbNeon Dwarf RainbowfishThreadfin RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiChocolate GouramiRainbow CichlidPygmy CorySterbai CoryJulii CoryUpside-Down CatfishZebra LoachHillstream LoachClown PlecoLeast KillifishRosy Red MinnowGhost ShrimpBamboo ShrimpCrystal Red ShrimpAssassin SnailRamshorn SnailMalaysian Trumpet SnailRabbit SnailGold TetraPenguin TetraRed Eye TetraFlame TetraBleeding Heart TetraColombian TetraGalaxy RasboraPhoenix RasboraEmerald Eye RasboraAxelrod's RasboraLeopard DanioGold Ring DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbForktail Blue-eyeLicorice GouramiCroaking GouramiThick-Lipped GouramiPeaceful BettaStrawberry BettaGolden RamFlag AcaraYellow Dwarf CichlidAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidCheckerboard CichlidEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryHabrosus CoryZebra OtoDwarf Chain LoachZebra Pleco (L046)Bumblebee ShrimpLyretail KillifishClown KillifishHigh-Fin PlatyBalloon MollyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

Avoid these tankmates

AngelfishDiscusConvict CichlidOscarPictus CatfishJack DempseyGreen TerrorTexas CichlidDemasoni CichlidAuratus CichlidFrontosaChinese Algae EaterRed Tail SharkFigure-8 PufferBlack Ghost KnifefishAfrican Butterfly FishRopefishSenegal BichirGolden Wonder KillifishBucktooth TetraBanjar Red CichlidSalvini CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornRed Zebra CichlidVenustus CichlidLivingstonii CichlidCompressed CichlidCalvus CichlidTropheus Duboisi

See the full tankmate guide for Otocinclus →