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Otocinclus flexilis   Cope, 1894
Image contributors to this species:
Marcelo Loureiro (1) C. H. Bishop (2)
ScotCat Sources:
Article Etymology = Genus Etymology = Species
Other Sources:
Fishbase  Search Google  All Catfish Species Inventory  Search ispecies  Catalog of Fishes
 
Relevant Information: The two last images are individuals collected in the Paraná river, in a site 4 to 5 Km (2.5 to 3 Miles) to the south from Diamante City, Argentina, by Noemí and Carlos Haroldo Bishop. Otocinclus flexilis inhabits clear waters of the southern regions of South America so this should be taken into account with temperature values in the home aquarium. Lives in the same waters as Corydoras paleatus and shares the same colour pattern. A similar looking darker species has been imported in the past from Uruguay. Aquarium Care: Requires cool waters in the aquarium as sustained high values can be problematic for this species. A planted tank is best as it is kind to plants but will keep the algae at bay. Can be a bit territorial with other fish but do well together in groups. Diet: Algae eater, tablet foods, lettuce, flake and small live and frozen foods. Remarks: This species (and one other) was removed from Otocinclus into a new genus, Macrotocinclus, by Schaffer (1997) and some publications use this change but it is not widespread at present (2011).
Common Name: Imitator Sucker Catfish
Synonyms: Otocinclus fimbriatus, Otocinclus arnoldi
Family: Loricariidae ycipitidae
Distribution: Brazil: Middle and lower Paraná/Paraguay, Uruguay and La Plata basins and Atlantic coastal streams of Southeastern Brazil. Type locality: Rio Jacuhy [Jacuí], Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Size: 6.0cm. (2½ins)
Temp: 20-24°c (67-75°f.)
p.H. 6.0-7.5.
Reference: Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl 1985 Aquarien atlas. Band 2. Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde GmbH, Melle, Germany. 1216 p.
Evers, H.-G. & I.Seidel: Mergus, Baensch Catfish Atlas Volume 1, 1st English edn., 2005. Pp.944.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.


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Family:  Loricariidae

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Otocinclus flexilis

Click for full imageOtocinclus flexilis  

Click for full imageOtocinclus flexilis  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





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