Parnahyba whiptail

Loricaria parnahybae

Also known as Parnaiba whiptail catfish

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 9.8 in (25 cm)
Minimum tank: 53 gal (200 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Parnaiba River basin, northeastern Brazil
Family: Loricariidae

Overview

The parnahyba whiptail is a long, flattened catfish that spends its life lying on open sand, so a deep bed of soft fine sand is the single most important thing you can give it. It is a social, peaceful fish that does best with a few of its own kind rather than alone, and it will not trouble other tankmates. Choose small, calm companions that feed in the upper water so the whiptail is not out-competed at the floor. Feed sinking pellets and wafers along with frozen bloodworm and daphnia, making sure food reaches the bottom. Allow a tank of around 200 liters with plenty of open sand and some driftwood for shade.

In the wild

Loricaria parnahybae comes from the Parnaiba river system of northeastern Brazil, where it rests on and buries into open sand banks. The tank should echo that with a wide, uncluttered area of fine sand deep enough to sift, edged with driftwood and a few shady spots. Keep the water in a broad, tolerant range, roughly 23 to 28 C and about pH 6.0 to 7.5, kept clean and gently moving. Fine sand is not optional, since sharp gravel damages the belly and barbels.

Good to know

Loricaria parnahybae belongs to the whiptail branch of the family Loricariidae. The body reaches about 16 centimeters, and the trailing tail filament brings the total length to roughly 25 centimeters. Breeding is of moderate difficulty and follows the striking loricariine pattern: after spawning the male gathers the eggs and carries the clutch on his enlarged lower lip and barbels, brooding them for around two weeks while still burying into the sand.

Did you know

Male whiptails of this group are lip brooders. The father carries the egg mass held against his mouth and barbels for about two weeks, and cannot feed normally the whole time he is minding the next generation.