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Hey all,
yesterday I found 6 small, brownish Otocinclus-like fish, and since I have a soft spot for rare fish, I could not resist (the fact the only cost 2 euro's a piece probably also played a role, though )
I'd like to know what species they are, and how to take proper care of them (water chemistry, temperature, food, tank set-up).
The pictures aren't that great, as the fish are not really cooperative. But hopefully they're clear enough.









Thanks in advance!

Parotocinclus spilosoma? I have a trio I found mixed in with P.jumbo.

I don't think they are some sort of Parotocinclus sp., because they don't have an adipose fin.
After browsing the web a little, I'm leaning towards LG2 Otocinclus sp. "Paraguay" (or Otocinclus "negros"). I'm a real novice on Hypoptominae/Hypoptopomatinae, though...

But thanks for your feedback!

It looks like a Hisonotus to me. I don't know which species.

I did an image search, and based on that I'd say that "Otocinclus sp. 'negro'" is also a Hisonotus.

EDIT; On the web it is mentioned that Hisonotus leucofrenatus is apparently sold as "Oto Negro". I'm guessing that's what this is.

My thought was also .

For what it is worth I have found them in two separate shipments of Paraotocinclus jumbo as contaminants.
Does that help pin them down?

Hello,

It is LG2, "Otocinclus" "negros".
This species is similar to Hisonotus notatus but has a shorter snout length and fin coloration (also H.leucofrenatus has an other coloration of the caudal fin).

best regards
Norman

Good call, Norman.
I was confusing spilosoma with notatus because both terms basically describe spots and I haven't become used to calling Oto-like cats Hisonotus, yet.

I have been trying to get mine to spawn. Female is really fat and the males do some excited chasing but so far no Hisonotus eggs.

There is a bit of info on fish called LG-2 on the net, e.g. http://www.pleco.de/lg/lg2.htm
According to that link, it is the same fish which is in the Cat-eLog as .

See, however, my comments on that cat-elog entry here:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... hp?t=19681

Thanks Mike,
paulinus is what I knew them as when I first aquired some about ten years ago. They are really frustrating as the females become apparently filled with roe but yet no eggs are ever found after they slim down.

I assume you've tried season simulation to trigger spawning?
You could try keeping them with breeding Corydoras. The presence of spawning Corydoras appear to be an effective trigger for the smaller Otocinclus-species, and might conceivably be for Hisonotus as well.

Thanks a lot for the feedback, guys!

I keep them together with some 7 Bronze Cories 'Orange Stripe', 6 Marbled Hatchet Fish, three Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids (1m/2f) and 3 L020 Polka Dot Pleco's (I think 1m/2f), so the potential for breeding is definitely there. So far nothing has happened in the tank, but maybe the fish can stimulate each other in the future...

One last question: the tank is rather warm (27 degrees C), and the temperature advices I found on-line vary wildly. Some of the accounts I've read on LG2, they should be kept in much cooler water of around 18-24 degrees (which doesn't sound strange, given the fact they're a rather southern species), whilst others have succesfully kept (and spawned) them in much warmer (27-28 degrees C) water.
Should I be worried about the current temperature? Any personal experiences? Tips or pointers?

Well, that temperature isn't dangerous to their health, at least.
Whether it might make them less likely to spawn is unknown to me.

Mike_Noren wrote:Well, that temperature isn't dangerous to their health, at least.
Whether it might make them less likely to spawn is unknown to me.

Keeping them alive (and prospering) is priority #1 for me, so that's good to hear. If they'd reproduce that would be grrat: if not, I could live with that...

Hi All
I'm new but as far as i know this is paraotocinclus cf.longirostris or maculicauda(young one).my looks the same.but the older ones started to getting red coloration on pectoral fins.
I'm 100% sure that your fish is paraotcinclus type(based on Insbrucker,Evers & Seidel "CATFISH ATLAS VOL.1"
regards

I doubt it's a Parotocinclus because it doesn't have an adipose fin.

It could be an undescribed Otocinclus, but really, it looks very much like a Hisonotus.