Stats

Lifespan

3-5 yrs

Size

Tiny

Diet

Herbivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

School

Biome

Tropical freshwater

Range

South America

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Armor

Status

Rare

About

Otocinclus are small, armored catfish commonly found in the freshwater rivers of South America, from northern Venezuela to northern Argentina. They are able to breathe air, which makes them popular in aquariums.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Siluriformes

Family

Loricariidae

Genus

Otocinclus