Otocinclus Catfish Care Guide
Otocinclus Catfish is a wonderful addition to any tank thanks to their gentle nature. These tiny Catfish are gentle and won’t attack any other fish in your tank. With the Otocinclus Catfish, you can safely increase your tank’s size without worrying about aggression.
Otocinclus Catfish
Otocinclus Catfish is a peaceful fish that like to keep to their school of buddies. They are the perfect fish in both their calm demeanor and cleaning skills. Otocinclus Catfish can clean glass but they love to clean plants. Your greenery will be kept clean and tidy by them. They also love to eat any leaves that aren’t completely removed. These fish are also excellent for tanks that have babies or shrimp inside them. Although the Otocinclus Catfish is a great addition to any tank, you need to be careful when buying these fish at the store.
How to Buy the Otocinclus Catfish
You want to make sure that you’re buying healthy fish. However, it is important to check the health of Otocinclus Catfishes before you buy. If they aren’t taken care of properly, these Catfish could starve to death.
Otocinclus Catfish can be caught wild and then purchased by wholesalers in large quantities. The Catfish may not receive adequate food as they are transported from the source to the wholesaler. The same goes for when they arrive and are housed at the wholesale location. Otocinclus Catfish can suffer from severe starvation if they are not provided with adequate food by wholesalers.
Sometimes, life after the wholesaler is not easy. Many pet stores will overfill the tank and house too many catfish in one aquarium. Again, they will not provide a sufficient amount of food or supply a decent source. One algae pellet can feed 100 fish if it is just one.
Otocinclus Catfish is not a fan of protein. They prefer vegetables. A second problem is that the fish are not given enough algae to eat. When there aren’t enough algae, you need to provide a source of algae for them to feed off of, such as Repashy Soilent Green gel food and canned green beans. This is often not available in pet stores, and it can affect the health of your fish.
You should only purchase the most fat Otocinclus Catfish because of the high chance of starvation. Healthy fish are those with full bellies. A few other ways to ensure you are buying healthy fish is to look at the location they are being sold at, as well as their listed price.
Otocinclus Catfish prices can vary widely. Some stores list them at $2 per fish while other stores sell them for up to $4 per piece. The less expensive listing price is usually indicative of a sick fish. Otocinclus Catfish, which are often listed at Petsmart at $2 per fish, are thin. Otocinclus Catfish that are skinny will stop eating if they don’t get enough food. The Catfish will not eat again if it is hungry. The Otocinclus Catfish is often sold at $2.
In other stores, the Otocinclus Catfish can be listed for $4 per fish. Although the price increase may seem like a disadvantage, it can actually be very beneficial for you. Fish that fetch up to $4 per piece are typically healthier and more fat. These Otocinclus Catfish happily swim around with their round bellies, feeding on the tank or provided algae. By investing the $4 in one fish, you are ensuring that it will have a happy life living in your aquarium. Healthy Otocinclus Catfish will live for approximately 5-7 years.
If your Otocinclus Catfish is in your tank for over a month you can be sure that you will have succeeded in finding a healthy food balance. Your fish will be happy navigating their new home if they have lived in your tank for this length of time.
The Otocinclus Catfish, a small fish that can be added to your tank, is a wonderful addition. They will thrive for many years if you love them.