What they really enjoy is a sandy substrate, such as the kinds of smooth silica sand (sometimes called silver sand) sold in garden centers for use in horticulture. Substrate is an issue, though, given that these whiptails forage in open water rather than among rocks or plants. On the other hand, cardinal tetras, common rams, discus, and wild-caught angels prefer somewhat warmer conditions, and these wouldn’t be the best companions for whiptails.
In other words, they like the same sorts of living conditions as neon tetras, black phantom tetras, Corydoras catfish, sheepshead acara, and keyhole cichlids. Aim for a hardness of 3° to 15°, and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.Īs for water temperature, they prefer conditions on the cool to middling side like many South American fish 72° to 79☏ is about right for most species. Good water quality is important, of course, and while they prefer soft, slightly acidic water, they also do well in moderately hard, slightly basic water. Keeping the open-water Loricariini isn’t difficult. It is very rare to see any of the other Harttiini in aquarium shops, though species of Lamontichthys and Sturisomatichthys are imported once in a while. A second genus, Sturisoma, is also quite commonly seen. The Harttiini are primarily represented in the trade by various Farlowella species, usually called “twig catfish” without any attempt to tell the different species apart. Quite a few other genera from the Loricariini are seen from time to time, though, including species of Loricaria, Planiloricaria, and Pseudohemiodon. These include such favorites as the common whiptail R. Among the Loricariini, most of the small whiptails seen in the trade come from the genus Rineloricaria (or Hemiloricaria, according to some authorities). There are more than 30 whiptail genera, many of which are never seen in aquarium shops. Broadly speaking, the Loricariini are easy to maintain and adapt well to captivity while the Harttiini tend to be much more challenging. While the Loricariini are carnivorous and feed extensively on insect larvae and worms, the Harttiini instead consume green algae and what biologists callaufwuchs, the tiny organisms that live within the algal turf. There are also differences between the two tribes in terms of diet. The Harttiini live on solid substrates, either wood or rocks, and are often found in fast-flowing habitats such as rapids and upland streams. The Loricariini live in rivers, where they favor sandy substrates and leaf litter. This division is actually quite informative and can be helpful when trying to decide on the best conditions for a given whiptail. Ichthyologists divide the whiptails into two tribes, the Loricariini and the Harttiini. So no matter how big your community aquarium, there’s a whiptail species for you! At the small end are dwarfs such as Rineloricaria parva, which are only 3 to 4 inches long, while the biggest species, like Pseudohemiodon laticeps, get to about a foot in length. True, there aren’t as many whiptails as there are Corydoras catfish, but there’s a good range nonetheless. One of the best things about whiptails is the range of species available. Watching them move about is quite a sight the smaller Rineloricaria species, for example, walk along using their mouth and pelvic fins like stilts! In short, they are excellent community tank catfish, among the best in fact, and I have to confess to having a very soft spot for them. While generally they are carnivores rather than algae-eaters, their predatory instincts are directed toward worms and insect larvae, and whiptails won’t harm even the smallest tankmates, such as livebearer fry. They combine bizarre looks with hardiness, adaptability, and utterly peaceful temperaments. Whiptails are probably the most underrated catfishes in the hobby. Of decidedly different shape, many species of whiptail catfish are easy to maintain and make fantastic attention-getters due to their unique appearance. If that little introduction of our 5 top fish that start with T has tickled your fancy and got you wondering about all of the other fabulous fish in our lists, then keep on reading.The Weird and Wonderful World of Whiptails Twig Catfish are mostly herbivorous, but bloodworm and daphnia are a great food option every so often.
These shy little catfish like to have plenty of places to hide in their tanks, so lots of plants and pieces of natural debris (such as branches or leaves) work well. Twig Catfish perhaps aren’t the best option for a beginner aquarist to choose. The Twig Catfish is a lovely friendly fish, but is best kept in single species tanks due to its extreme sensitivities and very specific requirements. We told you there was a fish in our list that looks like a twig and we’re not about to disappoint you.
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