TankBud

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
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Orinoco and upper Negro blackwaters

Overview

The peppermint otocinclus is a tiny grazing catfish that rasps soft green film and biofilm from wood, leaves and stones near the bottom. It suits a calm, mature tank and is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The peppermint otocinclus lives in water the color of steeped tea, so dark that light barely reaches the bottom. Even there it finds enough growth on leaves and wood to graze steadily through the day.

Caring for the peppermint otocinclus

Give the peppermint otocinclus a mature, gently aged tank of at least 14 gal (54 L). It needs a steady supply of biofilm and aufwuchs to graze. Add driftwood, dried leaves and plenty of planted or shaded surfaces where biofilm can build. Tannins from the leaves and wood tint the water like its home creeks.

Keep the water warm, soft and acidic, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0, with gentle flow. Supplement its grazing with algae wafers, blanched vegetables and the occasional small frozen food.

The peppermint otocinclus can live alone, but a group should be a shoal of at least six, and more is better. It is peaceful and delicate, so pair it only with small, calm fish and never anything boisterous.

It scatters small clutches of eggs on plants and surfaces and gives them no parental care. Breeding is moderately difficult, and soft, acidic water with mature grazing helps the fry survive.

Good to know

The peppermint otocinclus, Parotocinclus eppleyi, is one of the smallest catfish in the family Loricariidae. The genus name means near Otocinclus, after its close resemblance to those familiar dwarf suckermouths. It shares their gut, built for scraping algae and biofilm.

In the wild

The peppermint otocinclus grazes in blackwater creeks of the Orinoco and upper Rio Negro. It lives among leaf litter, roots and submerged plants, in water stained brown with tannins.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The peppermint 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a peppermint otocinclus need?

A peppermint otocinclus needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a peppermint otocinclus need?

A peppermint otocinclus is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a peppermint otocinclus eat?

A peppermint otocinclus grazes biofilm and aufwuchs in a mature tank. Supplement its grazing with algae wafers, blanched vegetables and the occasional small frozen food.

How big does a peppermint otocinclus get?

An adult peppermint otocinclus reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

How does a peppermint otocinclus breed?

A peppermint otocinclus scatters small clutches of eggs on plants and surfaces and gives them no care. Breeding is moderately difficult, and soft, acidic water with mature grazing helps the fry survive.

Related species