All fish / Loricariidae

Hoppe's Otocinclus

Otocinclus hoppei

Also known as hoppe's oto, otocinclus hoppei, oto hoppei, dwarf sucker, otocinclus, oto catfish, hoppei otocinclus, オトシンクルス・ホッペイ, 小精灵

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A very small sucker-mouth catfish with a sandy brown back and a dark stripe along the side that ends in a spot or blotch on the tail base. It is kept for its gentle nature and its habit of grazing algae and biofilm from plants, glass and decor, which makes it a good fit for planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more

Diet

Herbivore: biofilm, soft algae, blanched courgette and cucumber, algae wafers, occasional small frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Brazil: Amazon and Tocantins basins, including Pará and Mato Grosso

Breeding

Eggs are laid singly on plant leaves or glass after courtship similar to Corydoras, and the parents give no care. Spawning happens now and then in well-kept tanks, but raising the tiny fry on biofilm and microfoods is tricky.

Good to know

Most are wild caught and arrive thin, so they need a mature tank with plenty of biofilm and stable, clean water; losses soon after purchase are common. It is often sold mixed with or mislabelled as other Otocinclus species.