All fish / Loricariidae

Hoehne's Whiptail Catfish

Rineloricaria hoehnei

Also known as whiptail catfish, lancer whiptail, rineloricaria lanceolata, lanceolata whiptail, chocolate whiptail, whiptail pleco, twig catfish, ロリカリア, 鞭尾鲶

A slender, flattened armoured catfish with a long tapering tail, mottled brown body and darker saddles that help it vanish against sand and wood. It is kept as a calm, hardy bottom dweller that grazes biofilm and leftover food in community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Small group of 3 or more

Diet

Omnivore: sinking wafers, algae tablets, blanched vegetables, bloodworm and brine shrimp

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Paraguay and upper Paraná basins, Brazil

Breeding

Males guard eggs laid inside tubes or caves and develop bristles on the head when mature. It breeds fairly readily in captivity, and fry can be raised on fine foods and biofilm.

Good to know

Much of the stock sold as Rineloricaria lanceolata is actually this or other similar whiptails, so exact identity is often uncertain. Avoid boisterous tankmates that outcompete it at feeding time.