Do I Have An Otocinclus Pair?

[pest control]

hi, i have noticed recently that 2 of my 3 otocinclus (when i get my shrimp tank set up they will go in there with another half a dozen friends) seem to have paired up. here is a pic of them.



do you think i have a male and a female here? and if so, how can i encourage them to spawn? they seem to have become a lot more active since i've started doing bigger cool water changes recently to try to get my corys to spawn.

cheers

[MatsP]

Does look like a "skinny" and a "fat" one, so sounds plausible. However, these fish are not pair-bonding fish, they will breed more like corys - one big group all spawning together.

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Mats

[James0816]

Hard to tell actually with the condition of the top one. Doesn't look very healthy. Sunken bellies are not generally a good sign. Are you supplimenting thier diet with anything?

If you have two that are male and female and the conditions are right, they will spawn.

[pest control]

thanks, the one at the top has always been like that since i got it. i feed algae wafers, catfish tablets and blanched veggies.

[James0816]

How long have you had them if you don't mind me asking?

[pest control]

hi, i've had them for about 3 years now.

[apistomaster]

Despite having them for 3 years they do appear to be gaunt specimens. Very healthy Otocinclus should be fuller. They need abundant vegetation to have large grazing surface areas but supplemental feeding of Spirulina Sticks and Algae wafers should be fed daily.
Compare your fish with those in the long running Otocinclus breeding thread to see how Otocinclus in peak physical condition should look.

[pest control]

hi, i see what you mean. i didn't realise that they were so thin!!! with more food, do you think i could get them into good condition? and when i put the veggies in, should i put them in on the night or on the morning?

cheers

[apistomaster]

I feed Otocinclus during the day because they are basically a diurnal genus.
They will probably gain back their normal weight with daily supplemental feeding.

[pest control]

thanks, i'll be up tomorrow to pick a cucumber or courgette from the veggie patch!

[apistomaster]

That's good but I would still offer them the other foods.
The prepared foods are richer in other nutrients than zucchini.

[pest control]

yes, i'll still give them the algae wafers. are there any other good prepared foods that i could give them? also, i have a little tank outside, which houses my damselfly larva, and the rocks in it are covered in algae. should i put a rock into my tank for them to eat the algae off, and then put it back into the outside tank to grow more algae, and keep repeating?

cheers

[apistomaster]

They like earth worm sticks a lot so you might want some on hand.