TankBud

Circular whiptail

Planiloricaria cryptodon

Also known as UFO whiptail, Spoonface whiptail, Spoon face whiptail

FreshwaterFish

Circular whiptail (Planiloricaria cryptodon)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.0–7.4
Adult size
8.7 in
22 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Upper Amazon channels, Peru and Bolivia

Overview

The circular whiptail is an odd, disc-headed catfish for a calm tank with a wide, sandy floor. It needs a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

Almost every whiptail has a long, pointed snout, but the circular whiptail carries a wide, rounded, plate-like head. That is why the hobby knew it as the UFO or spoonface whiptail long before most keepers could name the species.

Caring for the circular whiptail

Give the circular whiptail a wide, low-traffic tank of at least 79 gal (300 L), with a large, open floor. It barely swims, and instead walks over the bottom on its fins. Lay a broad, deep bed of soft, fine sand, so it can bury itself without scraping its belly or barbels.

Keep the water clean, calm and well oxygenated, with gentle current and subdued light. Hold it soft to neutral, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.4.

Feed sinking pellets and soft meaty foods such as frozen bloodworm, placed on the sand where it can find them. Keep it only with calm tank mates that will not compete for food on the floor.

The circular whiptail is peaceful and does fine alone or in a group. A few can share a tank where the floor is large and open. It has occasionally been spawned in aquariums, but it remains an uncommon breeding project.

Good to know

Planiloricaria cryptodon is the only species in its genus, a member of the family Loricariidae. A long tail filament trails behind its body. The name cryptodon means hidden teeth, for its reduced, concealed dentition.

In the wild

The circular whiptail lives over sandy beds in the main channels of large upper Amazon rivers in Peru and Bolivia.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The circular whiptail is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a circular whiptail need?

A circular whiptail needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a circular whiptail need?

A circular whiptail is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.4.

What does a circular whiptail eat?

A circular whiptail eats sinking pellets and soft meaty foods such as frozen bloodworm. Place the food on the sand where it can find it.

How big does a circular whiptail get?

An adult circular whiptail reaches about 8.7 in (22 cm).

Related species