How big does Otocinclus get?

Otocinclus reaches an adult standard length of 4–5 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.

What water does Otocinclus need?

21–27 °C, pH 6–7.5, 2–12 dGH. At 6 °C wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.

What is the smallest tank for Otocinclus?

At least 40 L, and no shorter than 50 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is a schooling fish: keep at least 6 together. Fewer than that and it hides, loses colour, and aggression has nowhere to spread.

What is Otocinclus like to keep?

Temperament: peaceful. Difficulty: moderate. It occupies the bottom and is herbivore. With plants it is "Leaves plants alone".

G-01 / 35Freshwater

Otocinclus小精灵

Otocinclus vittatus · Loricariidae

A small pleco that eats only biofilm and diatoms: a bare new tank starves it, and most losses come in the first two weeks.

Illustration to come

G-01 / 35 · Otocinclus Otocinclus vittatus

SpecificationsFish atlas

Name: 小精灵
Scientific name: Otocinclus vittatus
Family: Loricariidae
Origin: Brazil and Peru, South America
Adult size: 4–5 cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Herbivore
Water level: Bottom
Level: Moderate
School size: ≥ 6
Min. tank: 40 L
Min. length: 50 cm
Plant safe: Leaves plants alone

Water requirementsFreshwater

Temp.21–27 °C

pH6–7.5

Hardness2–12 dGH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Keeping notes

1Grazes diatoms and biofilm from glass and leaves, so a bare new tank starves them.
2Mostly wild-caught: quarantine and deworm, since losses cluster in the first two weeks.
3Groups of six or more feel secure and cluster together on leaves and wood.
4Supplement with blanched courgette, spinach or algae wafers; tank algae alone will not sustain them.
5Peaceful and harmless with tetras, dwarf cichlids and small cyprinids.

Frequently asked questions

How big does Otocinclus get?: Otocinclus reaches an adult standard length of 4–5 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.
What water does Otocinclus need?: 21–27 °C, pH 6–7.5, 2–12 dGH. At 6 °C wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.
What is the smallest tank for Otocinclus?: At least 40 L, and no shorter than 50 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is a schooling fish: keep at least 6 together. Fewer than that and it hides, loses colour, and aggression has nowhere to spread.
What is Otocinclus like to keep?: Temperament: peaceful. Difficulty: moderate. It occupies the bottom and is herbivore. With plants it is "Leaves plants alone".