Common Whiptail Catfish Care Guide
Hemiloricaria parva (Rineloricaria parva) is a small whiptail loricariid from southern South America that needs driftwood, cover and clean water.
Overview
Hemiloricaria parva, widely listed under the synonym Rineloricaria parva, is a small whiptail catfish of the family Loricariidae. Wikipedia and FishBase give a standard length of about 11 cm. It is a peaceful, slender, bottom-dwelling loricariid known in the trade as the common whiptail catfish.
Taxonomy
- Family: Loricariidae
- Subfamily: Loricariinae
- Genus: Hemiloricaria
- Scientific name: Hemiloricaria parva
- Common synonyms: Rineloricaria parva, Loricaria parva
Habitat
Wikipedia and FishBase record the species from the Paraguay, Uruguay and lower-to-middle Parana river basins, across Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. It is a demersal freshwater fish of subtropical climate and a facultative air-breather.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
- Provide driftwood and hiding places in clean, well-oxygenated water
Diet
Omnivorous. As a loricariid it grazes on aufwuchs and accepts sinking foods and vegetable matter in the aquarium.
Compatibility
Peaceful and plant-safe, suiting community planted tanks with calm tankmates. It is a bottom-oriented species that benefits from driftwood and stable, clean conditions.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2020).