Otocinclus: are they plant eaters?

[Shaihulud]

My query: does it eats aquatic plant? I bought one recently and i observe it perching on my crypt munching on something. I haven't observed any aggression towards my plant, but a fish that eats spinach definitely should eat soft aquatic plants.

[uklau]

To me, it is the most plant friendly fish. It could be grazing algae on the surface of the leaves .

Don't worry, be happy .

[illumnae]

my personal experience is also that otos graze on the plant surface for microscopic algae but don't actually eat the plant itself

[Puffer]

Yeah from my experience, I don't think otos eat plant leaves but merely grazing on algae particulars, especially brown algae. Just to share here, I've got a tank which was infested with brown layers of algae on tank walls, leaves and wood. I introduced 3 otos and within 2 days, all the brown algae was gone!

[iwishweallcouldwin]

otos are a must for every tank haha.

[r4211z]

they do feed on rotting plants,
i noticed mine feeding on a dead leaf of a frogbit.

Another one was eating tubiflex worms off the feeder !
i see if i can catch them in the act and take a picture to prove it.

One thing i noticed is that they like to play around bubbles.
And when CO2 is too much in the tank, they will knock out.
When i intro air pump into the tank, they were revived.

[iwishweallcouldwin]

haha otos are super cute and has got a somewhat stupid appearance. but they are a must in all my tanks as they are deadly efficient with what they do. once my oto finished an entire ketapang leaf which i threw into my tank, until there was only the veins remaining.