| My Experience |
Basic Behavior | Food Preference | Links
|
| YouTube Videos |
Photography
|
Compatibility |
Classification |
Origin: South America | Approx Size:
1-1.5
inches
 My Experience
(summary of my own keeping)
A couple
of my favorite nicknames for these fish are "little
monkeys" or "water monkeys." Otos cling to aquarium
glass, rasping and scraping the surface, eating the
algae growing there. They do best in numbers,
although older specimens are fine on their own. The
only negative about these fish is that they can be
sensitive to water quality, but otherwise they are
an aquarist's best friend, "swinging" from surface
to surface in search of an algae treat.
Otos are
very common because of their small size and useful
utility within the aquarium. Algae is the staple of
their diet, but do not rely on them to do all of the
work themselves. Per any aquarium, frequent algae
scraping is still a necessity. Otos do help,
however, and are well worth it. In aquariums with an
abundance of otos or a lack of algae, algae
supplements are encouraged.
Side
note: I would truly enjoy it if "water monkeys"
became this fish's new common name.
Basic Behavior (based upon observations, readings
and conversations)
Peaceful, schooling
algae-eater.
Food Preference
(brands and types)
Algae. Algae supplements.
Links
http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/shanesworld.php?article_id=178 |
