All fish / Loricariidae

Orinoco Whiptail Catfish

Sturisoma tenuirostre

Also known as sturisoma, whiptail catfish, royal farlowella, twig catfish, sturisoma tenuirostris, スタurisoma, 鲟鱼鲶

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This is a slim, flattened suckermouth catfish with a long, pointed snout, a tall dorsal fin and tail lobes that end in long filaments. It is brown to tan with a dark stripe along each side. People keep it as a calm, unusual-looking grazer for planted community tanks with good water flow.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

12.6 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

A pair or small group

Diet

Herbivore: algae wafers, blanched vegetables, biofilm, plus some frozen bloodworm

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Orinoco basin, Venezuela

Breeding

Males grow bristles on the snout during the breeding season. They guard eggs that the female lays on smooth vertical surfaces such as the tank glass. Captive breeding is quite achievable in clean, well-oxygenated water with plenty of vegetable food.

Good to know

It needs clean, oxygen-rich water and does poorly with boisterous tankmates that outcompete it for food. Sellers often confuse it with other Sturisoma and Sturisomatichthys species, so check the identification.