TankBud

Common whiptail

Rineloricaria parva

Also known as Paraguay whiptail catfish, Small whiptail

FreshwaterFish

Common whiptail (Rineloricaria parva)

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–79°F
20–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
4.7 in
12 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg layer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Paraguay and Parana basins, South America

Overview

The common whiptail is a slim, easygoing catfish for a calm community tank. It is an easy first whiptail for a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The common whiptail is one of the few whiptails that prefers a cooler tank with seasonal changes in temperature. It does not need steady tropical heat all year round.

Caring for the common whiptail

Give a few common whiptails at least 20 gal (75 L), with a sand floor, some slender, twiggy branches and gentle current. They rest on the wood and sand and graze biofilm and algae off surfaces.

Keep the water on the cool side, at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C). It should be soft to neutral, with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed vegetable-based foods such as blanched zucchini and spinach, plus sinking pellets and the odd meaty morsel.

The common whiptail is peaceful and social, and it does fine alone or in a group. It is gentle and community safe, best paired with other calm, small fish.

Males develop bristly odontodes. After the female lays the eggs, the male takes charge of them. It has been spawned in aquariums with moderate difficulty, and its genus is known for being straightforward to breed.

Good to know

Rineloricaria parva is a member of the family Loricariidae. It is a slender, twig-like fish that comes from farther south than most whiptails.

In the wild

The common whiptail comes from the Paraguay and Paraná basins of southern South America. The region is subtropical, and the water cools noticeably in the cooler months. It rests on sandy beds and wood in slow to moderate flow.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The common 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 common whiptail need?

A common whiptail needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a common whiptail need?

A common whiptail is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a common whiptail eat?

A common whiptail eats vegetable-based foods such as blanched zucchini and spinach. Add sinking pellets and the odd meaty morsel, and it will also graze biofilm and algae.

How big does a common whiptail get?

An adult common whiptail reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).

How can you tell a male common whiptail from a female?

Males develop bristly odontodes.

How does a common whiptail breed?

Common whiptails have been spawned in aquariums with moderate difficulty. The female lays the eggs, and the male takes charge of them.

Related species