Marble whiptail
Loricaria simillima
Also known as Simillima whiptail
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)
- pH
- 6.0–7.4
- Adult size
- 10.2 in (26 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 66 gal (250 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Amazon and Orinoco lowlands
- Family
- Loricariidae
Overview
This sand-loving whiptail is social and peaceful, so keep a small group over a wide open floor of fine sand, which it burrows into until only its eyes show. It sifts sand and grazes biofilm and small foods, so offer sinking pellets, wafers, and frozen items such as bloodworm, and make sure enough reaches the bottom. Keep it with calm, gentle tankmates that will not compete at the floor. Plan on at least 250 liters with a wide sand bed, driftwood, and shaded hides.
In the wild
It is widespread across the lowlands of the Amazon and Orinoco, lying on soft sand in calm and slow-flowing reaches. Above all it needs a wide, open bed of fine sand, along with driftwood and a few shaded caves. Keep the water warm at about 24 to 28 C with a pH of 6.0 to 7.4, soft and slightly acidic to neutral, and gentle in flow.
Good to know
Loricaria simillima is a loricariid that reaches about 26 centimeters, a slim, flattened whiptail marbled to blend with sand. It is a paternal lip-brooder: after spawning, the male carries the mass of eggs tucked against his enlarged lower lip and barbels for roughly two weeks. Breeding is of moderate difficulty.
Did you know
The male is the one that carries the eggs. He holds the whole clutch bundled against his lower lip and barbels for about two weeks, even burying into the sand with the eggs still attached, and cleans them several times a day.
Tank mates
Marble whiptail is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Teardrop guianacara
Guianacara dacryaFreshwater5.5 in (14 cm)66 gal (250 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Red tail lasiancistrus
Lasiancistrus heteracanthusFreshwater7.1 in (18 cm)66 gal (250 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Blue Phantom Pleco (L128)
Hemiancistrus sp. L128Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm)66 gal (250 L)81–86°F (27–30°C)
Big spot pleco
Ancistomus feldbergaeFreshwater7.9 in (20 cm)66 gal (250 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Head-spot delta pleco
Lasiancistrus tentaculatusFreshwater6.7 in (17 cm)66 gal (250 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Ogilbie's osteobrama
Rohtee ogilbiiFreshwater7.9 in (20 cm)66 gal (250 L)68–81°F (20–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Marble whiptail need?
A Marble whiptail needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Marble whiptail need?
Marble whiptail are comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.4.
How big do Marble whiptail get?
An adult Marble whiptail reaches about 10.2 in (26 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
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Related species
Parnahyba whiptail
Loricaria parnahybaeFreshwater9.8 in (25 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Brown pleco
Hypostomus plecostomoidesFreshwater10.2 in (26 cm)79 gal (300 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Papa panaque
Panaque bathyphilusFreshwater9.8 in (25 cm)79 gal (300 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Three beacon pleco
Leporacanthicus triactisFreshwater11 in (28 cm)106 gal (400 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Basilisk pleco
Hypostomus basiliskoFreshwater9.4 in (24 cm)79 gal (300 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Llanero whiptail
Lamontichthys llaneroFreshwater9.1 in (23 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)