Are you thinking about stocking one or many Otocinclus? Will they be depressed alone or aggressive in groups? In this article, we’ll find out if keeping if one or a group of Otocinclus is the better option.
Can You Keep Otocinclus Alone? Keeping a social Otocinclus alone may cause stress and early death without following their natural habits of shoaling in groups. Keep 3-5 in a 10 gallon tank and 6-8 in a 20 gallon tank.
Do Otocinclus Stay In Groups?
We’ve seen Otocinclus on opposite ends of a 55 gallon tank and wonder if there is any validity to them being kept together. Why are they so far apart? There could be two possible answers.
- The tank is big and spacious.
- They are too comfortable to shoal.
Spacious Tank
A spacious tank over 20 gallons for these smaller sized, bottom-dwellers allows them more room to forage for diatoms and algae on rocks, glass or other surfaces. It will certainly keep them busy.
If you have a smaller tank between 10-20 gallons, you may see your Otocinclus taking no issue with each other and shoaling together more often.
Comfort vs. Shoaling
The debate is on. Some say that Otocinclus give up all resemblance of shoaling behavior in tank settings. The strength in numbers allow Otocinclus to stay closer together when there is a sign of discomfort, stress or a threat looming.
It could be aggressive tankmates or poor quality, but these catfish keep each other company in times of need. If they aren’t shoaling or grouping together, they are more than comfortable and busy. This means you’ve done your caregiving task really well.
How Many Otocinclus Should I Get?
Consider the fact that Otocinclus swim in groups of hundreds or thousands through large streams and rivers. These fish would have to share tight spaces. Your tank would allow the room for more than one Otocinclus.
You may have been recommended one Otocinclus because it will help clean up the algae in your tank and won’t bother the rest of your marine life.
This is mostly true. However, the stress or fear of being alone without the natural proximity to its Otocinclus counterparts may harm its immune system. This may create a more skiddish or stressed loner Otocinclus.
- 10 Gallon Tank: 3-5 Otocinclus
- 20 Gallon Tank: 6-8 Otocinclus
- 30 Gallon Tank: 9-10 Otocinclus
Continue to make sure their bellies are round indicating that they’re eating well. You may notice an appetite increase in your Otocinclus when they’re kept together.
Can You Keep One Otocinclus Catfish?
These dwarf suckermouth catfish are normally seen together, rummaging and grazing algae near the beds of streams and rivers. Did you pick up one Otocinclus to clean up algae in the tank?
Maybe you’ll find out how nice they are to have around in larger numbers. They are generally peaceful and busy eating all day or resting during daylight hours.
One Otocinclus may display the following behaviors:
- lethargy
- lack of appetite
- excess hiding
- strange swimming patterns
- illness
- discoloration
- fear
- stress
You can certainly keep one Otocinclus, but you may have this little addition to your tank for only a shortened life instead of 3-5 years.
Do Otocinclus Need Friends?
This is a popular question and the wording of such demonstrates how peaceful Otocinclus really are. You can keep them in groups of 10-15 without worrying about aggression or competition.
Not to say that it’s nonexistent, but Otocinclus are not inclined to be territorial or overtly physical when determining their place in groups and space in the tank.
Which Tankmates Go Well With Otocinclus?
You are looking for mostly top or mid-level swimmers. Your Otocinclus will not challenge its tankmates for territory or food. This bottom-dweller will only go after sinking food, algae or edible debris in the substrate.
As long as you don’t keep larger predatory fish who prefer the bottom of your tank, your Otocinclus will get along or mind its own business. The following tankmates made our cut, but we recommend plenty more that suit similar water parameters and swim in different locations of the tank.
- Angelfish
- Cherry Barbs
- Corydoras Catfish
- Danios
- Dwarf Gourami
- Guppies
- Harlequin Rasbora
- Mollies
- Tetras
- Zebra Loaches
How Big Is One Otocinclus?
You are looking at dwarf catfish when you’re choosing to stock your tank with Otocinclus. The figures below indicate the size of mature Otocinclus.
- Minimum length: 0.6 inches
- Average length: 1.7 inches
- Maximum length: 2 inches
Males tend to be smaller than females. Males are flatter in the way they distribute their size. Females are rounder and even broader when breeding.
Are Otocinclus Territorial?
The good news is that Otocinclus are not territoirial. Although we don’t have any bad news, we wish to suggest that you have plenty of planted spaces for your Otocinclusto rest or hide during the day.
This fish is not necessarily nocturnal, but it does enjoy feeding or moving around at night when the rest of the tank is calm. Add the following:
- dense or bushy plants
- deep rooted plants
- caves
- artificial decorations
- rocks
- driftwood
Many of these spaces will not only give your Otocinclus some comfort, they will also become sources of nutrients or algae.
Conclusion
We don’t need to stress that Otocinclus need to be in groups, but a single Otocinclus could get stressed alone.
You may notice their sense of peace and appetites growing when they are kept together in groups of 3 or more. Since Otocinclus naturally shoal together or swim in the wild with large groups, the added company of more Otocinclus in your tank could be invited.
Thanks for visiting HelpUsFish.com for another article on Otocinclus that we greatly enjoy in our community tanks. Check out more of our articles on the variety of marine life we research and keep. Bye for now!
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