Dwarf Sucker

About

The dwarf sucker (Otocinclus mariae) is a small but busy member of the loricariid family, native to the upper Madeira and lower Amazon river basins of South America. What it lacks in size it makes up for in utility and personality. This little fish will methodically work over plant leaves, driftwood, and glass surfaces in search of algae and biofilm, making it a genuinely useful addition to a planted setup. One of its more entertaining habits is parking itself flat against the front glass, giving you an unobstructed look at its armored underside and sucker mouth. Like others in its genus, it has the ability to breathe air as a supplement to gill respiration, an adaptation that speaks to the sometimes oxygen-variable environments it inhabits in the wild. Despite its small adult size, the dwarf sucker is not the easiest fish to keep long-term. It does best in a mature, well-established tank with a consistent supply of surface algae and biofilm, supplemented with vegetable-based foods. It appreciates the company of its own kind and tends to be peaceful with tankmates. This is a rewarding species for a keeper who understands its dietary needs.