HomeFreshwater aquarium fishCatfish & plecosOtocinclus vestitus Otocinclus vestitus Scientific name: Otocinclus vestitus Cope, 1872 Otocinclus vestitus is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows to about 5 cm (2 in). It is easy to keep and peaceful, suits community aquariums and needs a tank of at least 75 L (20 US gal), water at 20–26°C (68–79°F) and a pH of 6.0–7.8. Native range: South America, Amazon and Lower Parana River basins. Otocinclus vestitus care at a glanceCare levelEasyTemperamentPeacefulCommunity tankGoodAdult size5 cm (2 in)Minimum tank75 L (20 US gal)Temperature20–26°C (68–79°F)pH6.0–7.8Hardness2–25 dGH (36–446 ppm)DietHerbivore. Accepts flakes. Species factsScientific nameOtocinclus vestitusFamilyLoricariidae (Armored catfishes)OrderSiluriformes (Catfish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length3.2EnvironmentFreshwater; demersalClimateTropicalDistributionSouth America: Amazon and lower Paran? River basins.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmless More catfish & plecosChocolate-colored catfishRineloricaria lanceolataAncistrus temminckiiAcanthicus adonisDekeyseria pulchraDekeyseria brachyuraHypostomus cochliodonSee all catfish & plecos SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026