Golden Dwarf Sucker
Otocinclus affinis
The Golden Dwarf Sucker (Otocinclus affinis) is a peaceful fish that's rewarding to keep. Give it a tank of at least 40 litres (11 US gallons), water held at 70-79°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Asia
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Golden Dwarf Sucker Tank Setup
A tank of at least 40 litres (11 US gallons) works well. Keep the water at 70-79°F with a pH around 6.5-7.5, and set up both cover and open swimming space where they spend most of their time (Mid).
What Do Golden Dwarf Suckers Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Golden Dwarf Sucker Tank Mates
The Golden Dwarf Sucker is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Golden Dwarf Suckers Good for Beginners?
Care demand varies by line and setup. Match the care level to how often you actually test and change water.
Golden Dwarf Sucker - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Golden Dwarf Suckers need?
Golden Dwarf Suckers need a tank of at least 40 litres (11 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Golden Dwarf Suckers need?
Keep them at 70-79°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Golden Dwarf Suckers eat?
Golden Dwarf Suckers are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Golden Dwarf Suckers good for beginners?
It depends on the setup. Match Golden Dwarf Suckers to how often you actually test water and perform maintenance.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Golden Dwarf Suckers
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
