Do other fishes have issue with gut bacteria beside otocinclus

[anewbie]

For reasons i don't fully understand it has been said that if the gut bacteria of a otocinclus (i presume all species) dies it cannot be replaced and the fish will eventually die. My question is: Are there other genus with similar issue. For example there are oto like fishes in the genus Hypoptopoma would they have the same issue or even genus not even close to otocinclus such as apistogramma or danio. Is there more information around the situation with otocinclus and if it is unique to the genus what characterisitic of the fish leads to this uniqueness.

 

[MacZ]

All herbivores, basically. Just I doubt this is a problem in Otocinclus since it is by now quite clear they are not strict herbivores.

 

[anewbie]

All herbivores, basically. Just I doubt this is a problem in Otocinclus since it is by now quite clear they are not strict herbivores.

So the bacteria dying in the gut thing is just an internet rumour and not factual issue with them; or you suspect that is the case ?

 

[MacZ]

I have intensively researched the literature on Otocinclus and found no factual basis for the gut flora theory, which admittedly I also held true for a while. They are simply not strict herbivores but aufwuchs eaters, meaning factually between omnivore and detrivore.