ORANGE ZEBRA OTO – 皇后小精灵

THE ORANGE ZEBRA OTOCINCLUS CATFISH (NANNOPTOPOMA SP. “PERU ORANGE”) IS AN EXTREMELY RARE SUCKERMOUTH CATFISH SPECIES FROM PERU. IT IS A VERY IMPRESSIVE NANO FISH AND, LIKE ALL OF ITS CLOSE RELATIVES, IS A SUPERB ALGAE EATER. THE ORANGE ZEBRA OTOCINCLUS CATFISH IS PRIMARILY HERBIVOROUS AND WILL CONTINUOUSLY FEED ON ALGAE IN THE AQUARIUM, BUT IT WILL NOT HARM MOST ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. IT IS COMPATIBLE WITH MOST OTHER PEACEFUL FISH AND INVERTEBRATES THAT ENJOY THE SAME WATER CONDITIONS, BUT IT MIGHT INADVERTENTLY EAT VERY SMALL DWARF SHRIMP FRY AS IT SCAVENGES. RELATIVELY HIGH WATER FLOW AND CLEAN WATER ARE NECESSARY FOR THIS SPECIES. LIKE MOST OTOCINCLUS, THE ORANGE ZEBRA OTOCINCLUS CATFISH IS A SCHOOLING SPECIES AND SHOULD BE KEPT IN GROUPS.

IF SUFFICIENT ALGAE IS NOT PRESENT IN YOUR AQUARIUM, THE DIET OF THE ORANGE ZEBRA OTOCINCLUS CATFISH CAN BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH FRESH VEGETABLES (SUCH AS ROMAINE LETTUCE, CUCUMBER, OR ZUCCHINI), ALGAE WAFERS, OR VEGETABLE-BASED FLAKE FOOD.