Red lizard whiptail

Rineloricaria lanceolata

Also known as Red whiptail catfish, High Dorsal Whiptail Cat

FreshwaterFish

Red lizard whiptail (Rineloricaria lanceolata) — 5snake5 · CC0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 77–82°F; 25–28°C
pH: 6.0–8.0
Adult size: 3.9 in; 10 cm
Minimum tank: 24 gal; 90 L

Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Diet: Omnivore
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity: Common
Family: Loricariidae
Origin: Upper Amazon basin, Peru and Brazil

Overview

The red lizard whiptail is a whiptail catfish that grazes along the substrate and wood, most active once the lights go down. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The red lizard whiptail in the trade, sometimes sold as L010a, is often an undescribed red Rineloricaria. That fish is distinct from the wild-type Rineloricaria lanceolata, though care is the same either way.

Caring for the red lizard whiptail

Give red lizard whiptails a mature tank of at least 24 gal (90 L) with a sandy substrate. Add driftwood, slate caves and a few lengths of PVC pipe for shelter. They are largely nocturnal, so keep the lighting dim.

Keep the water warm, at 77 to 82°F (25 to 28°C). The pH can sit anywhere from 6.0 to 8.0, though the soft, slightly acidic side is better if you can manage it. Keep the current gentle, with flow low to moderate, rather than blasting them with a strong powerhead. Feed algae wafers, sinking foods and blanched vegetables, with the odd meaty or frozen item mixed in.

Red lizard whiptails are social bottom dwellers and fine alone, though a group of six or more does better with its own kind around. They are very peaceful. Good tank mates include small characins, Apistogramma, Corydoras and other quiet loricariids.

They breed readily in PVC caves, and the male does all the parenting. Once the female lays inside, he stays with the eggs, fanning fresh water over them and chasing off intruders until the fry hatch. Raising the fry is the fiddly part, which makes breeding a moderate challenge rather than an easy one.

Good to know

The red lizard whiptail, Rineloricaria lanceolata, is a slender whiptail catfish in the family Loricariidae.

In the wild

Red lizard whiptails come from the upper Amazon basin in Peru and Brazil. They sit on the bottom of slow, shaded waterways among wood, roots and fallen leaves.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The red lizard 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 red lizard whiptail need?

A red lizard whiptail needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a red lizard whiptail need?

A red lizard whiptail is comfortable at 77–82°F (25–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–8.0.

What does a red lizard whiptail eat?

A red lizard whiptail eats algae wafers, sinking foods and blanched vegetables. Mix in the odd meaty or frozen item as well.

How big does a red lizard whiptail get?

An adult red lizard whiptail reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).

How does a red lizard whiptail breed?

Red lizard whiptails are cave spawners and breed readily in PVC caves. The female lays inside, and the male fans and guards the eggs until the fry hatch. Raising the fry is the fiddly part.