Chameleon Whiptail (Pseudohemiodon apithanos) Care Guide
Pseudohemiodon apithanos is a sand-dwelling whiptail catfish from the western Amazon, reaching about 14.5 cm SL.
Overview
Pseudohemiodon apithanos is a whiptail catfish of the family Loricariidae, described by Isbrücker and Nijssen in 1978. According to FishBase it originates from the San Miguel River basin in the western Amazon drainage. It is sometimes called the chameleon whiptail.
Taxonomy
- Family: Loricariidae
- Genus: Pseudohemiodon
- Scientific name: Pseudohemiodon apithanos
Habitat
FishBase records the species as a tropical freshwater, demersal fish from the San Miguel River basin in the western Amazon drainage of South America.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
Diet
FishBase assigns a trophic level of about 2.5. The KB record classifies the species as a carnivore fed once daily; fine-grained sand and meaty foods suit this bottom-feeding whiptail.
Compatibility
A peaceful, nocturnal, bottom-dwelling species. The KB record lists tetras and Corydoras as compatible, while aggressive or territorial plecos should be avoided.
Conservation status
FishBase lists the IUCN Red List status as Least Concern, with medium resilience and low vulnerability to fishing pressure.