Paraguay black otocinclus
Otothyropsis piribebuy
Also known as Piribebuy oto
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–79°F
- 20–26°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 1.4 in
- 3.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 14 gal
- 54 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Origin
- Piribebuy basin, Paraguay
Overview
The Paraguay black otocinclus is a micro-grazing loricariid that suits cooler planted tanks. It is a step up from the easiest fish.
Did you know
The species name of the Paraguay black otocinclus is just the name of its river, Piribebuy, left unlatinized.
Caring for the Paraguay black otocinclus
Give the Paraguay black otocinclus a planted tank with wood and gentle flow. Like all otocinclus-type fish, it needs an established tank with real biofilm to graze. It will starve if you add it to a clean new setup. Supplement the biofilm with algae wafers and blanched zucchini.
It tolerates temperatures at the low end of what most tropical fish accept. Keep it at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Give it clean, well-oxygenated water and surfaces for algae.
The Paraguay black otocinclus is social and does fine alone or in a group. A group of six or more can share 14 gal (54 L). It is peaceful and safe with community fish. Breeding is possible but rarely reported.
Good to know
The Paraguay black otocinclus belongs to Otothyropsis, a small genus in the family Loricariidae. The genus was split off from the broader hypoptopomatine group that contains Otocinclus. Its members are armored grazers with a flattened underside, much like Otocinclus.
In the wild
The Paraguay black otocinclus comes from the Piribebuy basin in Paraguay. It lives in clear subtropical streams that cool noticeably in winter.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Paraguay black otocinclus is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Black arrow tetra
Inpaichthys luizae
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Fire halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon kapuasensis
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Green lace shrimp
Atyoida pilipes
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Bahia parotocinclus
Parotocinclus bahiensis
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Delta killifish
Fundulopanchax deltaensis
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Red line halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon phaiosoma
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Paraguay black otocinclus need?
A Paraguay black otocinclus needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Paraguay black otocinclus need?
A Paraguay black otocinclus is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a Paraguay black otocinclus eat?
A Paraguay black otocinclus grazes the biofilm of an established tank. Add algae wafers and blanched zucchini as a supplement.
How big does a Paraguay black otocinclus get?
An adult Paraguay black otocinclus reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).
Related species
1.4 in (3.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)Golden dwarf sucker
Otocinclus macrospilus
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Peppermint otocinclus
Parotocinclus eppleyi
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
- 1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Bahia parotocinclus
Parotocinclus bahiensis
1.6 in (4 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Galaxy otocinclus
Parotocinclus haroldoi
1.6 in (4 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Vampire otocinclus
Nannoptopoma sternoptychum
1.6 in (4 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Vestitus otocinclus
Otocinclus vestitus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)