Otocinclus species ID

K

Kristinann

AC Members
Jul 9, 2010
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I just got 2 otos today, and I'm essentially 100% sure I got 2 different species. I will be getting more soon, but for a week or so it's just the two.

Anways, I was wondering if there was any way to ID these? ONe is much darker, witha pointier, more snout-like face, and darker streaks through the fins. The pelvic fins on this fish also seem to stay under the body more, whereas with the lighter fish they stick out more to the sides, though this might be more behavioral.

I'll be uploading pics in a bit.
 
That pale 1 doesn't look real healthy to me. They may be the same species, it's hard to tell them apart especially since the 1 is so washed out. planetcatfish has many oto species pics
 
Well, I got them from Petco, I didn't really expect them to be healthy. The guy was pretty rough with them, I almost refused them, I don't think he realized how sensitive they are. But I figured I would try to nurse them back to health, or take advantage of the 15 day live guarantee. In any case, they were probably very stressed out yesterday when these pics were taken.

I have not seen the pale one yet today but I have seen the dark one.
 
They look like the same species. One is just pale and skinny and sickly looking. The other isn't in that great of condition either.

Ottos are really hard to get healthy after they've passed a certain point, so I wish you luck with that and hope you succeed. I personally would have bought neither. Ottos are wildcaught and it just encourages them to order in more and not care for/handle them adequately.
 
I have had really good luck importing otos. They almost always come in fat and healthy. I have gotten them to readily eat kens veggie sticks over any other foods.
 
RiVerfishgirl said:
They look like the same species. One is just pale and skinny and sickly looking. The other isn't in that great of condition either.

Ottos are really hard to get healthy after they've passed a certain point, so I wish you luck with that and hope you succeed. I personally would have bought neither. Ottos are wildcaught and it just encourages them to order in more and not care for/handle them adequately.
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Ditto on what RiVerfishgirl said. If your gonna buy Oto's I'de either buy from a reputible breeder or supplier who truly cares and handles them with care or find a petco/petsmart who actually have a good fish staff with good strong healthy specimen. I use to feel so bad for the sickly fish and buy it or want to buy something because its so hard to find despite its shape. Now I look for quality. Its sad that there suffering but my wallet will suffer more if I buy sickly fish. That money could be better used on my other 20+ fish I own.

Either way I wish you the best of luck on this. Maybe the oto expert on here will be able to give a possitive ID.

Edit...

See next time order from Rachel lol. She has the best mini fish stock on AC.
 
Sry I missed this post. They look like O. Macrospilus. The first one definately looks to be really stressed out. They will fade like that. And skinny too! :(

How are they doing now? Throw in some blanched zucchini as soon as you can for them.
 
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