Edit Otocinclus cocama
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Name
Scientific name
Otocinclus cocama
Described by
Authority Reis, Year 2004
Family
Loricariidae
Common names
Zebra Oto
Photograph credits
All 5 credited
Summary
The zebra oto, Otocinclus cocama, is a miniature loricariid from Peru, thought to occur throughout the lower Ucayali and Marañon. Verticall…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
45mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 45 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement Low: still or sluggish water
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 21–25°C, pH 6–7.5
Hardness
2–10dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Peaceful
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Peru, Marañón, Ucayali
Writing
Etymology
Otocinclus: Derived from the Greek oto (ear) and kinklis (grid), an allusion to the perforated post-temporal bone, reminiscent of an eardrum. Some sources give…
Distribution
Type locality is ¡s 'Quebrada Yamayacu, about 4°55'S, 73°43'W, tributary to the caño of the cocha Supay in Jenaro Herrera, Provincia Requena, Departamento Lore…
Habitat
Otocinclus spp. are mostly restricted to small tributaries or slow-flowing marginal zones of larger rivers and usually associated with aquatic vegetation or te…
Aquarium size
Aquarium base dimensions of 45 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent should be the smallest considered for long-term maintenance.
Maintenance
Requires a mature, densely-planted set-up, ideally with floating vegetation and roots, twigs or branches to add structural complexity. Dried leaf litter can al…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
Vegetarian, it feeds on algae and aufwuch in its habitat. When introduced to an aquarium, there should be a good supply of common green algae or diatoms (brown…
Behaviour and compatibility
Peaceful with other species but does not make an ideal community fish due to its small size and rather timid nature. Ideally it should be kept alone or at most…
Sexual dimorphism
Fully-grown adult males tend to be 5 – 10 mm smaller than females, and possess a conical urogenital papilla behind the anus which is absent in females. Males a…
Reproduction
Has been achieved, but unforunately very few details are available. Presumably the fry are very tiny and will require access to copious amounts of algae and ot…
Notes
This stunning miniature Loricariid has only been available in the hobby since 2001, and was described to science in 2004. As with other otos, it can be a littl…
References
References
3 on this profile