Giant Whiptail (Pseudohemiodon laticeps) Care Guide
Pseudohemiodon laticeps is a sand-dwelling whiptail catfish from the Paraná-Paraguay-Uruguay basins, reaching about 30 cm SL.
Overview
Pseudohemiodon laticeps is a whiptail catfish of the family Loricariidae, described by Regan in 1904. According to FishBase it occurs in the Uruguay, Paraná and Paraguay River basins of South America and reaches about 29.8 cm standard length.
Taxonomy
- Family: Loricariidae
- Genus: Pseudohemiodon
- Scientific name: Pseudohemiodon laticeps
Habitat
FishBase records the species as a freshwater, demersal fish of the Uruguay, Paraná and Paraguay basins, in subtropical conditions. It cites a temperature range of 24-28 °C and water hardness of 3-20 dH.
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 2.4. The KB record classifies the species as a carnivore fed once daily; this whiptail buries itself in fine soft sand and accepts live or frozen meaty foods.
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 (assessed 2020), with medium resilience.