Common whiptail

Rineloricaria parva

Also known as Paraguay whiptail catfish, Small whiptail

FreshwaterFish

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
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Paraguay and Parana basins, South America
Family: Loricariidae

Overview

The common whiptail is a slim, easygoing catfish that is peaceful and gregarious, so a few can be kept together in a modest tank. It rests on wood and sand and grazes biofilm and algae off surfaces. It is gentle and community-safe, best paired with other calm, small fish. Feed it vegetable-based foods such as blanched zucchini and spinach, plus sinking pellets and the odd meaty morsel. It takes cooler water than most whiptails, which makes it an easy first choice in the group, and a tank of around 75 liters with sand and some twiggy wood suits it well.

In the wild

The common whiptail comes from the Paraguay and Parana basins of southern South America, a subtropical region where water cools noticeably in the cooler months. It rests on sandy beds and wood in slow to moderate flow. A tank with a sand floor, some slender branches and gentle current recreates this. Keep the water soft to neutral, roughly pH 6.0 to 7.5, and on the cool side at about 20 to 26 C, which is unusual among its tropical relatives.

Good to know

Rineloricaria parva is a member of Loricariidae and reaches about 12 centimeters, a slender, twig-like fish that comes from farther south than most whiptails. Its genus is known for being straightforward to breed, and it has been spawned in aquaria with moderate difficulty. Males develop bristly odontodes and take charge of the eggs after the female lays them.

Did you know

Coming from subtropical southern rivers, it is one of the few whiptails that actually prefers a cooler tank and seasonal changes in temperature, rather than steady tropical heat all year round.