Gold spot otocinclus
Parotocinclus spilosoma
Also known as Spilosoma oto
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 2.4 in (6 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 14 gal (54 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Paraíba basin, northeastern Brazil
- Family
- Loricariidae
Overview
This little catfish is a social grazer, so keep a group of several and let them patrol the tank together; single fish are shy and tend to fade. They are peaceful and completely harmless to tankmates, spending their time scraping algae and biofilm from stones, wood, and leaves. House them with small, calm community fish that will not bully them off their food. Feed a base of natural algae and biofilm, topped up with algae wafers and blanched vegetables. A tank of about 54 liters holds a small group comfortably.
In the wild
It lives in the Paraiba basin of northeastern Brazil, in shallow, clear creeks with a gentle current over sand and rock, with some plant growth at the margins. Recreate that with fine substrate, smooth stones, wood for biofilm, and soft to neutral water. Keep it warm at about 24 to 28 C with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 and clean, stable conditions.
Good to know
Parotocinclus spilosoma is a dwarf loricariid that reaches only about 6 centimeters. Unlike the true Otocinclus it has a small adipose fin, one of the features that separates the genus. Its body is dark and mottled with a dusting of gold. It scatters adhesive eggs across firm surfaces, and spawning is of moderate difficulty.
Did you know
The name spilosoma means spotted body, from the Greek for spot and body. Its far-eastern Brazilian home is off-limits for export, so it is only rarely seen in the aquarium hobby.
Tank mates
Gold spot otocinclus is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Goldhead nannacara
Nannacara aureocephalusFreshwater3.1 in (8 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Marbled helogenes
Helogenes marmoratusFreshwater3.1 in (8 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Redfin glass tetra
Erythrocharax altipinnisFreshwater1.3 in (3.3 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Black darter tetra
Poecilocharax weitzmaniFreshwater1.9 in (4.7 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Colombian gold tetra
Hyphessobrycon saiziFreshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Branco dwarf cichlid
Biotoecus dicentrarchusFreshwater2 in (5 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Gold spot otocinclus need?
A Gold spot otocinclus needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Gold spot otocinclus need?
Gold spot otocinclus are comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big do Gold spot otocinclus get?
An adult Gold spot otocinclus reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
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Related species
Pit bull otocinclus
Parotocinclus jumboFreshwater2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Red fin otocinclus
Parotocinclus maculicaudaFreshwater2.4 in (6 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Ceará parotocinclus
Parotocinclus cearensisFreshwater2 in (5 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Bahia parotocinclus
Parotocinclus bahiensisFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Galaxy otocinclus
Parotocinclus haroldoiFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Peppermint otocinclus
Parotocinclus eppleyiFreshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)