All fish / Loricariidae

Zebra Otocinclus

Otocinclus cocama

Also known as zebra oto, cocama oto, tiger oto, zebra otocinclus, otocinclus zebra, oto cocama, オトシンクルス・コカマ, ゼブラオトシン, 斑马小精灵, 斑马耳斑鲶

This small suckermouth catfish has a creamy white body crossed by bold black bars and saddles, which makes it one of the most striking Otocinclus species. Keepers prize it as a peaceful grazer for planted community tanks, where it spends its time picking biofilm off leaves and glass.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 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, soft algae, blanched vegetables, algae wafers and some small frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin in Peru (Ucayali and Marañón drainages)

Breeding

It spawns like a small Corydoras, sticking adhesive eggs to plants and glass, and it has been bred in home aquariums on a few occasions. Raising the tiny fry needs plenty of biofilm and very clean water, so success is uncommon.

Good to know

Wild-caught fish often arrive starved and delicate, so quarantine them and give them a mature tank with lots of biofilm. Do not mix them up with the cheaper common Otocinclus species, and avoid keeping them with large or boisterous tankmates.