All fish / Loricariidae

Morrow's Whiptail Catfish

Rineloricaria morrowi

Also known as morrow's whiptail, whiptail catfish, whiptail pleco, rineloricaria morrowi, l-number whiptail

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This whiptail catfish has a long, flattened body covered in bony plates, with a mottled brown pattern and a long whip-like extension on the upper tail lobe. It is among the bigger whiptails and is kept as a calm, well-camouflaged bottom dweller for peaceful community tanks with sandy floors.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

15 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a small group with plenty of floor space

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets and wafers, bloodworm, brine shrimp, blanched vegetables

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin, Ucayali drainage in Peru

Breeding

Males guard eggs laid in caves or tubes and fan them until hatching, as in other Rineloricaria. Captive spawning of this species is reported far less often than for small whiptails, though it is likely achievable in clean, well-oxygenated water.

Good to know

It grows larger than most whiptails and is sold only now and then, so other Rineloricaria species are often sold under this name. Keep it away from fin-nipping or very boisterous tankmates.