For the first time ever we are now able to offer a very rare Otocinclus species, namely O. mimulus. Besides all the well known good characteristics that it shares with other members of the genus – small size, peacefulness, cleaning of plant leaves, day activity – this species also has to offer a very special feature. It lives along with a species of Corydoras and has the very same coloration; this phenomenon is called mimesis. The Corydoras species is C. diphyes (see http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archive/corydoras-en/Corydoras_diphyes_en/) which we currently also have in stock. So one has for the first time the chance to study the behaviour of both species kept together in an aquarium.
For our customers: Otocinclus mimulus has code 273994 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Otocinclus: ancient Greek, means “with latticed ear”; referring to a bone in the skull, which is visible externally and placed where in humans would be the ear; this bone has a latticed structure. mimulus: Latin, means “little actor”, referring to the mimikry of this species with Corydoras diphyes. Corydoras: from ancient greek, means „with helmet and spear“. This refers to the strong armor and fin spines. diphyes: anicient Greek, adjective meaning “of double nature”, in reference to the variation in body patterns, eg striped and blotchy.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
