TankBud

Llanero whiptail

Lamontichthys llanero

Also known as Sturgeon whiptail, High-fin whiptail

FreshwaterFish

Llanero whiptail (Lamontichthys llanero)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.0–7.2
Adult size
9.1 in
23 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Orinoco llanos rivers

Overview

The Llanero whiptail is an elegant, demanding catfish for a river-style tank. It is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

Rather than swimming about, the Llanero whiptail tends to perch and hold its place against the current all day. It faces into the flow like a kite on a string.

Caring for the Llanero whiptail

Give Llanero whiptails a tank of at least 79 gal (300 L), set up like a river with strong flow. Use a stream-style layout of sand or gravel, driftwood snags and smooth rocks.

Keep the water warm, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.2. It must be spotless, fast-moving and high in oxygen, since these fish fade quickly in still or dirty tanks.

They graze biofilm from wood and stone. Add algae wafers and vegetables, and make sure enough food reaches the floor.

Llanero whiptails are social and can live alone, but a small group is better, since they are bolder and more active in company. Keep them with other calm, current-loving fish.

They lay their eggs on firm surfaces, and the males guard them. Breeding them is of moderate difficulty.

Good to know

Lamontichthys llanero is a slim, twig-shaped catfish in the family Loricariidae. Its fins are tall, with long, trailing filaments on the tips, and its body is built to hold station in current.

In the wild

The Llanero whiptail comes from the llanos rivers of the Orinoco system in Colombia and Venezuela. These are shallow, fast rivers, with well-oxygenated water running over sand, wood and rounded stone.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Llanero 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 Llanero whiptail need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Llanero whiptail need?

A Llanero whiptail is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.2.

What does a Llanero whiptail eat?

A Llanero whiptail grazes biofilm from wood and stone, and it also eats algae wafers and vegetables. Make sure enough food reaches the floor.

How big does a Llanero whiptail get?

An adult Llanero whiptail reaches about 9.1 in (23 cm).

How does a Llanero whiptail breed?

A Llanero whiptail lays its eggs on firm surfaces, and the male guards them. Breeding it is of moderate difficulty.

Related species