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.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
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).
Breeding Hemiloricaria parva
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.