New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

💧 Freshwater Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Subtropical

aquarium

Otocinclus flexilis Cope, 1894
Max Length
6.8 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
-
Depth
-
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
16.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

aquarium (Otocinclus flexilis), first described by Cope, 1894 is a small fish in the family Loricariidae (order Siluriformes). Adults typically reach 6.80 cm in maximum length. It inhabits freshwater systems including rivers, streams, and lakes. It occurs in Subtropical waters. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.The species is important as a food fish, kept in the aquarium hobby, and considered a sustainable seafood option under current management. As a member of the Loricariidae, it shares life-history and morphological traits with its relatives in the group.

Scientific Name
Otocinclus flexilis
Authority
Cope, 1894
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
6.8 cm
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
16.00/100
Water Temp
20–25 °C
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for aquarium is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous
Spawning Season
spring
Spawn Location
Substrate
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.5 - 7.8; dH range: 2 - 25. Subtropical; 20°C - 25°C South America: Laguna dos Patos drainage basin in Brazil.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater ⬇️ Benthic

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00933 × L3.12 (TL)
Max TL
6.8cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
20–25°C
pH Range
6.5–7.8
Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2018

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
16.00/100
Low vulnerability
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Cope, 1894

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"aquarium is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for aquarium is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for aquarium has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact
✓ Sustainable Choice

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🌍CES krunýřovec pružný
🇵🇹Portuguese Cascudinho
🇪🇸Spanish Limpiavidrios
🇨🇳Chinese 弓筛耳鲶

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Macrotocinclus flexilis Cope 1894 Synonym
Otocinclus fimbriatus Cope 1894 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for aquarium ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.