Galaxy otocinclus

Parotocinclus haroldoi

Also known as Haroldoi oto

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 1.6 in (4 cm)
Minimum tank: 14 gal (54 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Parnaíba basin, Brazil
Family: Loricariidae

Overview

The galaxy otocinclus is a tiny speckled grazer that lives in a group, so keep several together for them to stay confident and busy. They graze biofilm and soft algae from stones, wood and plants throughout the day. Small and peaceful, they belong only with calm nano fish and shrimp. Their staple is the film that grows in a mature tank, topped up with a little blanched vegetable and fine prepared grazing foods. A settled, gently planted tank of about 54 liters suits a small group, provided it has had time to build up a good coat of biofilm for them to work.

In the wild

The galaxy otocinclus comes from the Parnaiba basin in Piaui, northeastern Brazil, a river system that rarely turns up in the aquarium trade. It grazes stones and plants in warm, clear, gently flowing creeks. A mature planted tank with wood, rock and a soft floor stands in for it. Keep the water soft to neutral, roughly pH 6.0 to 7.5, and warm at about 24 to 28 C, with steady conditions and frequent small water changes.

Good to know

Parotocinclus haroldoi is a member of Loricariidae and one of the family's smallest grazers at around 4 centimeters, speckled with pale flecks over a dark body. It comes from the Parnaiba drainage in northeastern Brazil, a basin cut off from the great Amazon and Orinoco systems that supply most aquarium catfish. It has been bred in aquaria with moderate difficulty.

Did you know

The pale flecks scattered across its dark body look like stars on a night sky, and that starry speckling is exactly what gives the galaxy otocinclus its common name.