{"product_id":"zebra-otocinclus-otocinclus-cocama-large-x-large-aquarium-glaser","title":"Zebra Otocinclus (Otocinclus Cocama) X- Large (Aquarium Glaser)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eZebra Otocinclus\u003c\/strong\u003e is widely regarded as \u003cstrong\u003ethe rarest and most visually striking\u003c\/strong\u003e species of \u003cem\u003eOtocinclus\u003c\/em\u003e. Native to Peru, it is instantly recognizable by its \u003cstrong\u003ebold black-and-white zebra striping\u003c\/strong\u003e, setting it apart from common otos. Due to limited collection localities and poor survival during transport, it remains \u003cstrong\u003euncommon and premium-priced\u003c\/strong\u003e in the aquarium trade. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eOtocinclus cocama\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zebra Otocinclus, Zebra Oto\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Loricariidae\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdult size:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~4–5 cm (1.5–2\")\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3–5 years with excellent care This species was described relatively recently (1997) and is \u003cstrong\u003etaxonomically distinct\u003c\/strong\u003e from common Otocinclus types such as \u003cem\u003eO. vittatus\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem\u003eO. macrospilus\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOrigin \u0026amp; Natural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDistribution:\u003c\/strong\u003e Peru\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRiver system:\u003c\/strong\u003e Upper Amazon basin (Ucayali \/ Marañón drainage)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHabitat:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShallow, slow- to moderate-flow rivers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDense aquatic vegetation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLeaf litter, roots, and submerged wood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh dissolved oxygen \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZebra Otocinclus live in \u003cstrong\u003elarge shoals\u003c\/strong\u003e in nature, grazing continuously on algae and aufwuchs growing on plants and submerged surfaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBody pattern:\u003c\/strong\u003e Thick, contrasting \u003cstrong\u003eblack zebra bands\u003c\/strong\u003e over a white to cream base\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTail:\u003c\/strong\u003e Distinct \u003cstrong\u003eW-shaped black marking\u003c\/strong\u003e on the caudal peduncle (diagnostic trait)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEyes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pronounced iris crescent typical of southern Otocinclus\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBody shape:\u003c\/strong\u003e Compact but slightly deeper-bodied than some other Otos \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament \u0026amp; Behavior\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/strong\u003e Extremely peaceful\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eActivity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Diurnal (day-active)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSocial behavior:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eObligate shoaling species\u003c\/strong\u003e — minimum \u003cstrong\u003e6\u003c\/strong\u003e, ideally \u003cstrong\u003e8–12+\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen kept singly or in small numbers, Zebra Otos often fail to feed, become lethargic, and deteriorate rapidly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAquarium Care Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTank Size\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~55 L \/ 15 gallons (for a proper group)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarger tanks provide stability and more grazing surface \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e Water Parameters\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZebra Otos are \u003cstrong\u003eless forgiving\u003c\/strong\u003e than common species and demand pristine conditions:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003epH:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.5–7.2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1–10 dGH (soft preferred)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlow:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gentle to moderate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater quality:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmmonia \u0026amp; nitrite: 0 ppm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNitrate: \u0026lt;20 ppm \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOnly suitable for fully established aquariums (8–12+ weeks old).\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDiet \u0026amp; Feeding (CRITICAL)\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZebra Otocinclus are \u003cstrong\u003especialized aufwuchs grazers\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrimary foods:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoft green algae\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrown diatoms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBiofilm on leaves, glass, and driftwood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMandatory supplementation:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh-quality algae wafers (spirulina-rich)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlanched zucchini, cucumber, spinach\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOccasional frozen microfoods (cyclops, daphnia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcellent tankmates:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall tetras (e.g., ember, green neon)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRasboras\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePygmy Corydoras\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDwarf shrimp (Amano, Neocaridina)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvoid:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge or aggressive fish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFast, competitive feeders\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCopper-based medications \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExtremely rare\u003c\/strong\u003e in home aquariums\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEgg scatterers on plants or glass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo parental care\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFry require biofilm-rich environments and microscopic foods\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aquarium Glaser","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47740900376894,"sku":"400000027265","price":59.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0837\/5104\/3390\/products\/Zebra-Otocinclus-_Otocinclus-Cocama.jpg?v=1698983485","url":"https:\/\/yourlocalfishstore.com\/products\/zebra-otocinclus-otocinclus-cocama-large-x-large-aquarium-glaser","provider":"Your Local Fish Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}