Whip Tail Catfish

Of decidedly different shape, many species of whiptail catfish are easy to maintain and make fantastic attention-getters due to their unique appearance.

Whiptails are probably the most underrated catfishes in the hobby. They combine bizarre looks with hardiness, adaptability, and utterly peaceful temperaments. While generally they are carnivores rather than algae-eaters, their predatory instincts are directed toward worms and insect larvae, and whiptails won’t harm even the smallest tankmates, such as livebearer fry.

In short, they are excellent community tank catfish, among the best in fact!

The Whiptail has a slender body with a camouflage color pattern that covers the entire fish. Because this species comes from the tropic waters of South America, a neutral pH is recommended. This catfish should be housed in at least a 100L aquarium, with high filtration and plenty of aeration. A planted tank with rocks and driftwood will provide plenty of hiding spaces to prevent the fish from becoming stressed.

Whiptail catfish breed by laying their eggs on plants or rocks, and breeding in the aquarium setting is not usual.

A planted tank with high vegetation and some algae will sustain the Whiptail Catfish. However, if algae are not present, supplement with a vegetable based flake food, or algae wafer to provide the fish with a balanced diet.