Breeding Hemiloricaria parva

Breeding guide for the whiptail catfish Hemiloricaria parva (Rineloricaria parva): a cave/tube spawner in which the male alone guards and fans the eggs.

Overview

Hemiloricaria parva, listed by Seriously Fish under the synonym Rineloricaria parva, is a slender whiptail catfish reaching about 11 cm (4.4 in) standard length, recorded at 20-25 C and pH 6.0-7.5. It is a substrate-tube / cave spawner with paternal care and has been bred in the aquarium, though success is not guaranteed.

Sexing

Mature males develop odontodes (bristle-like growths) on the head and on the pectoral fin rays, which are lacking in females (Seriously Fish).

Conditioning

Condition adults on nutrient-rich vegetables such as kale and spinach together with live or frozen bloodworm and similar foods. Seriously Fish recommends water on the acidic side of neutral and soft for breeding.

Breeding Setup

Provide spawning caves in the form of lengths of PVC pipe of less than 2 inches (about 5 cm) diameter, into which the male can retreat. The water should be soft and just acidic of neutral.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

The male selects and cleans a cave; a receptive female visits it and deposits her eggs, which the male then fertilises. The female plays no further part in brood care, leaving the male solely responsible for guarding the cave against intruders while fanning the eggs with his fins (Seriously Fish).

Egg & Fry Care

According to Seriously Fish the eggs hatch in 4-5 days and the fry become free-swimming 2-3 days later, at which point the male can be removed. The fry are reared on cucumber slices, spinach and other greens alongside microworm and brine shrimp (Artemia) nauplii.

Common Challenges

Clean, well-oxygenated water is important for this species, and the male must be left undisturbed to tend the clutch. Removing or stressing the guarding male, or allowing water quality to slip, are the most common causes of failure.