Peppermint otocinclus

Parotocinclus eppleyi

Also known as Eppleyi oto

FreshwaterFish

Peppermint otocinclus (Parotocinclus eppleyi) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 5.5–7.0
Adult size: 1.4 in (3.5 cm)
Minimum tank: 14 gal (54 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Orinoco and upper Negro blackwaters
Family: Loricariidae

Overview

The peppermint otocinclus is a tiny grazing catfish that lives in groups, so keep a shoal of at least six and ideally more; single fish are nervous and fade. It works surfaces near the bottom, rasping soft green film and biofilm from wood, leaves, and stones. It is peaceful and delicate, so pair it only with small, calm fish and never anything boisterous. A mature, gently aged tank matters, because it needs a steady supply of biofilm and aufwuchs to graze; supplement with algae wafers, blanched vegetables, and the occasional small frozen food. A tank of around 54 liters holds a starter group.

In the wild

In the wild Parotocinclus eppleyi grazes in blackwater creeks of the Orinoco and upper Rio Negro, among leaf litter, roots, and submerged plants stained brown with tannins. Recreate that with driftwood, dried leaves, and plenty of planted or shaded surfaces where biofilm can build. Keep the water warm at 24 to 28 C and soft and acidic, roughly pH 5.5 to 7.0, with gentle flow. Tannins from leaves or wood help mimic the tea-coloured water it comes from.

Good to know

Parotocinclus eppleyi is one of the smallest catfish in Loricariidae, reaching only about 3.5 centimeters. The genus name means near Otocinclus, marking its close resemblance to the familiar dwarf suckermouths, and it shares their gut built for scraping algae and biofilm. Breeding is of moderate difficulty; it is an egg layer that scatters small clutches on plants and surfaces and gives no parental care, so soft, acidic water and mature grazing help the fry survive.

Did you know

It lives in water the colour of steeped tea, so dark that light barely reaches the bottom, yet still finds enough green film and biofilm on leaves and wood to graze steadily through the day.