▷ Otocinclus affinis Loricariids | All info

Data sheet Otocinclus affinis armored catfish

German name:
Otocinclus affinis armored catfish

Scientific name:
Otocinclus affinis

Origin:
South America

Size:
Body length 2.4cm – 5.5cm

Aquarium

Length:
Length from 100 cm width and from 40 cm width

Contents:
from 112 liters

water values

Temperature:
21°-26° C

pH:
5.5 – 7.5

GH:
4° – 12° dH

Behave

Area:
entire aquarium

Lining:
Omnivore, prefers plant food

Behave:
peaceful, group fish

Number:
Schooling fish, at least 5 animals

Difficulty level:
Novice Aleksandr Skopenko, Otocinclus affinis (2), CC BY-SA 3.0

Otocinclus affinis have only a very narrow longitudinal band that does not extend into the fin and has no tail patch. Compared to the other species, the Otocinclus affinis is virtually colorless and lacking in contrast. He shows no strong brown coloring on the back. Otocinclus affinis are more difficult to keep because they cannot tolerate high temperatures.

Otocinclus affinis is actually not an Otocinclus at all, but belongs to the genus Macrotocinclus.

Mating of Otocinclus affinis

Otocinclus affinis Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: Aleksandr Skopenko

When mating, the female cleans a spot on the disk or on a leaf. The male always follows closely and preens at the level of the anal fin. Then the female turns to the male in such a way that the laying tube is over the cleaned area. The male curls around the female’s head. The anal fin is in front of the female’s mouth. The female glues an egg or two to the cleaned spot. The animals maintain this position for about 10 seconds, then continue swimming.

The eggs are distributed throughout the aquarium, mostly in places with currents.

About 15 pairings were counted in 30 minutes. The animals initially mated about 4 minutes apart, later less than 1 minute apart. The pairings last for several hours, with intermittent breaks.

The eggs are milky white and about 1 millimeter in diameter. After a few hours, embryos can already be seen in the eggs. Some eggs don’t stick well to the substrate. Especially with larger leaves, the eggs quickly sink to the bottom.

Otocinclus affinis Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: Marrabbio2

After about a day, the first movements of the embryos can be seen. The young hatch on the 2nd day after the eggs are laid. But at first they stay where they hatched. The newly hatched young are about 4 millimeters and transparent.

On the tail are vertical lines reminiscent of millimeter divisions on a ruler.

Another day later the yolk sacs have shrunk and the young begin to move along the disks.

The parents can then mate again or still.

After 4 days, the young are already 6 millimeters in size. They swim along the panes and eagerly clean.

They dare then already on the ground. The older animals are darker colored. The shape of the head is similar to that of the large Otocinclus.

The top is dotted. There is a dark stripe on both sides of the head and 4 vertical stripes on the abdomen.

The next day, the young swim freely through the aquarium. The floor, panes, stones, roots and plants are being cleaned eagerly.

The observations described took place in the following environment: