Description
Common Name:
Common Whiptail Catfish
Synonyms:
Loricaria parva, Hemiloricaria parva
Family:
Loricariidae
Subfamily:
Loricariinae
Distribution:
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay: Paraguay River basin. Type locality: Descalvados, Matto Grosso Brazil.
Size:
12.5cm. (5ins)
Temp:
20-25ºC ( 67-77°f)
p.H.
6.5-7.5.
Characteristics
Dorsal: 1/7, Anal: 1/5, Pectorals: 1/5, Ventrals: 1/4 29 bony scutes in a lateral series. The pectoral fin-spine reaches to the second quarter of the ventral fin-spine when both are laid back. Upper and lower rays of caudal fin have long filaments. On the hinder part of the belly there are 3-4 rows of ventral scutes between the lateral ones; on the anterior part are numerous small scutes.
Colouration
Upperside is olive-grey to grey-yellow with numerous black blotches which are often united into transverse bars. Underside clay-yellow to whitish. An irregular dark line runs obliquely forward from the eye to the tip of the mouth. Fins transparent, with dark blotches or rows of blotches on the fin-rays.
Aquarium Care & Compatibility
They are easy to keep and breed and do well in a community tank as long as there is species that are not too aggressive kept alongside them.
Reproduction
Provide caves or pipework where the females will lay their eggs as in the wild they are laid in hollow logs or branches. The male takes over the guarding of the green coloured eggs and they hatch, depending on water temperature, between 3 and 10 days.
Diet
Provide a good vegetable diet for the adults such as cucumber, courgette (zucchini) and also sinking tablet food. Fry can be reared on the same foods after a start on brine shrimp and blanched lettuce leaves.
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