Otocinclus Catfish

The Otocinclus Catfish—frequently referred to as the "Oto"—is the ultimate miniature powerhouse for planted nano aquariums. These tiny, streamlined catfish are widely regarded as the absolute best consumers of stubborn brown diatom algae and soft green algae in the hobby. Because of their tiny adult size and exceptionally peaceful nature, they are one of the very few fish that can be safely housed alongside delicate dwarf shrimp. Otos are highly social and thrive best when kept in schools of six or more within a mature, heavily planted ecosystem with stable water parameters and an abundance of natural biofilm to graze on.