Choosing Otocinclus Tank Mates
Good Otocinclus tank mates share the same temperature and pH window, will not be eaten by (or eat) the Otocinclus, and do not compete for the same swimming zone or feeding time. Each pair guide below scores those factors from 0 to 100 and gives the minimum tank size for keeping both species together.
Start with the highest-scoring pairs; anything under 45 is listed so you know what to avoid, not as a recommendation.
Care baseline
Tiny algae-eating catfish that are peaceful with all species. Need established algae growth and biofilm; sensitive to ammonia.
| Temperature | 72–82°F |
| pH | 6.0–7.5 |
| Adult size | 1.5 in |
| Minimum group | 4 |