All fish / Loricariidae

Batman Otocinclus

Otocinclus batmani

Also known as batman oto, batman otocinclus, otocinclus sp. batman, oto batmani, batman dwarf sucker, オトシンクルス・バットマニ, 蝙蝠侠小精灵

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This is a small armoured sucker-mouth catfish with a pale body and a dark lateral stripe. The stripe ends in a tail spot shaped a bit like a bat emblem, which gave the fish its name. Keepers like it as a peaceful, shy algae grazer for planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more

Diet

Herbivore: biofilm and soft algae, plus algae wafers, blanched courgette and spinach

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin in Colombia, Peru and Brazil

Breeding

Like other otos, it lays sticky eggs on leaves and glass after the fish chase each other in a pattern similar to Corydoras spawning. Spawnings in captivity are uncommon, and almost all fish in the trade are wild caught.

Good to know

Newly imported wild fish often arrive starved, so they need a mature tank with plenty of biofilm and should be quarantined. It is easy to confuse with other Otocinclus species, so check the tail marking when buying.