Dwarf suckermouth catfish a.k.a oto cat
otocinclus affinis

It belongs to the family Loricariidae

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Origin:
Southeast Brazil

Description:
A slender catfish with a suckermouth. A fairly high dorsal fin, but no adipose fins. About 1 ½ inches in length (4cm).

Color:
A base color that is light greenish gray to a muddy yellow. The fins have no color, or in some cases a light green.

Sexual distinction:
Mature females will be much bulkier.

Tank conditions:
Needs a current of some kind. So you can’t just have one in a bowl that doesn’t have a filter current, or current from a bubble curtain. Temperature 68-73 degrees Fahrenheit (20-23 Celsius). The ph and hardness ratings are not that important. The tank should be well planted with lots of hiding places.

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And don’t worry about the plants, the oto cat a.k.a dwarf suckermouth catfish will eat the algae that grows on them. That brings me to my next subject.

Food:
Will mainly eat vegetation, will also eat very small worms. Most people often buy the oto cat a.k.a dwarf suckermouth catfish to eat the algae growing in their tank, which it will earn it’s keep by doing.

Behavior:
Usually remains under cover during the day, most active at dusk and during the night, which is it’s normal feeding time. Will attach it self to the sides of vertical slabs of rock, plant leaves and stems or the side of the glass.

Sexual reproduction:
A difficult fish to breed, but what I’ve learned is that they breed similar to Corydoras. The eggs hatch after 2-3 days. The fry should be feed baby brine shrimp (artemia nauplii) micro worms or egg yolk powdered very very fine.

Compatibility:
Somewhat territorial but harmless. They will be just fine in a mixed aquarium when enough room is given.

Dwarf Gourami
colisa lalia

It belongs to the family Belontiidae.

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Cost: $3-5

Origin:
Indian subcontinent.

Description:
A very compressed, elongated ovoid. The anal and dorsal fins almost reach the caudal fin. The pelvic fins are like long antenna looking things. Gets up to 2 inches (5cm).

Color:
Very colorful. Basic color is a bright red, with the males having a slanted double row of luminous light blue-green spots which also extend onto its fins. The head to the back of the gill area and belly are a brilliant blue green. The end of the anal fin and the caudal are red. The pelvis fins are orange.

Sexual distinction:
The color on a female will be much paler, and she will have rounded anal and dorsal fins.

Tank conditions:

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The main thing is that you need to keep your water warm. Temperature 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit (24-28 Celsius). Other then that no special requirements. A good healthy tank would have plenty of plants and medium lighting and a tight cover.

Food:
Will eat live or a high quality dried food.

Behavior:
Will be territorial, but usually will not inflict damage on to its tank mates.

Breeding:
Builds bubble nests. Algae and floating leaves and plant stems will be incorporates into the nest. Will demonstrate multiple acts of spawning. The male will look after the eggs.

Compatibility:
Will coexist with other territorial species.

CAUTION!!!
This is an extremely good jumping fish and needs a very tight lid fixture.

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid
apistogramma cacatuoides

Click here to learn what a cichlid is.

Cost: $5-45, the price you pay depends on where you go. It’s more expensive to buy from a shop then from a breeder.

Short Bio:
One of the smaller, peaceful, and very beautiful cichlids. The Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid also has a very fascinating breeding behavior.

Origin:
It’s from the Peruvian part of the Amazon Basin.

Size:
The males will grow up to a size of 2.75 in (7 cm) with females reaching a size of 1 in (2.5 cm).

Sexual distinctions:
Males will be larger with brighter colors and more ornate finnage. The mouths of full-grown males will be very large.

Tank conditions:
The tank can be a community tank or a specialist aquarium.
Minimum tank size is 24 x 12 x 12 in (60 x 30 x 30 cm).

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Temperature should be between 79-81 degrees Fahrenheit (26-27 Celsius). The water ideally should be soft and slightly acid to slightly alkaline. (Ph of 6.0-7.5), although the Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid will still breed in hard water. The water should be of excellent quality at all times. Try to eliminate strong currents. The tank should be decorated with plants and small flower pots, the substrate should be a fine gravel or sand. There really in no limit to the number of Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids kept in one tank, just make sure that each female is given a 12 in (30 cm) diameter territory of their own.
The Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid tends to stay near the bottom of the tank.

Food:
In the wild would normally eat small aquatic organisms but in a controlled environment the Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids diet should consist of small live food, frozen food, and or flake food. Switching up the diet every now and then is a good thing to do, it will give a balanced diet.

Behavior:
Peaceful in community tanks and can defend it’s brood against much larger fish. When defending it’s brood it uses intimidation more then injury inflicting fights.

Breeding:
Will pair up, but it’s better to have 7 females to one male, giving each female it’s own 12 in (30 cm) diameter territory with the males territory. The breeding caves should have small opening and low set ceilings. The brood is watched over by the female(s) alone.

Ram (Butterfly Dwarf Cichlid)
microgeophagus ramirezi

Now there are two different types of Ram cichlids available Blue Ram Cichlid and Golden Ram Cichlid. This information below can be used for both.

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Cost: $5-15

Short Bio:
This cichlid is a delightful dwarf cichlid, that is kept by many aquarists but rarely with much success due to the lack of knowledge to its stringent requirements.

Origin:
It’s from the pools and streams that are in the Orinoco drainage in Columbia and Venezuela.

Size:
Both the males and females get up to 2.5 inches (6.5 cm)

Sexual distinctions:

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The females will be different in that fact that they have a mauve-pink pink area on the lower flank.

Tank conditions:
Temperature 77-82 degrees Fahrenheit (25-28 Celsius). The water should be very soft to slightly acid, with a Ph of 6-6.5. These measurements are true for both breeding and long lifespan. Try to avoid having strong currents in the tank. The tank should be well-planted and be decorated with bogwood and caves that are concealed among the decorations.

Food:
In the wild the Ram (Butterfly Cichlid) eats mainly aquatic invertebrates, so in captivity the main diet should consist of frozen or live foods.

Behavior:
The Ram (Butterfly Dwarf Cichlid) is a peaceful cichlid even when breeding.

Breeding:
It is possible to breed the ram (butterfly dwarf cichlid), but is rarely achieved due to poor stock and incorrect maintenance.