Parotocinclus britskii

Parotocinclus britskii honours Dr Heraldo Antonio Britski, one of Brazil's foremost freshwater ichthyologists and author of numerous loricariid descriptions. The species is described from Atlantic Forest coastal rivers of southeastern Brazil — a distinct biogeographic region separated from the Amazon by thousands of kilometres and home to a unique ichthyofauna with high levels of endemism. P. britskii has a lightly reticulated pattern on the flanks and a neatly formed body typical of the genus.

The Atlantic Forest coastal rivers are characterised by cool to moderately warm, clear water flowing rapidly through mountainous terrain. These streams are typically soft to moderately hard, with good oxygenation and a rocky or gravelly substrate. P. britskii is a social loricariid that grazes periphyton and detritus from rocks and aquatic plant surfaces, inhabiting the same shallow, productive marginal areas as its Otocinclus relatives in the Amazon.

For aquarium keeping, P. britskii is a somewhat more cool-water tolerant Parotocinclus than those from tropical Amazonian regions, making it suitable for planted aquaria maintained at slightly lower temperatures. It performs well in small groups in clean, well-oxygenated water with live plants and smooth rocks. It is rarely exported but represents an interesting acquisition for serious loricariid collectors.

Water: Soft to moderately hard at pH 6.0–7.5 and 20–26°C; good oxygenation and regular water changes. Tank: 60 litres minimum with live plants, smooth rocks, and moderate flow. Feeding: Algae wafers, blanched vegetables, and fine detritus; naturally grazes biofilm from rocks. Breeding: Not documented; Atlantic Forest conditions — clear, moderately cool, soft water — are the likely prerequisites. Compatibility: Peaceful with all similar-sized community species.