Loricaria Catfish (Loricaria sp.)
Loricaria Catfish (Loricaria sp.) are a South American Whiptail catfish that is found in the upper Rio Negro and from the lower rio Branco downstream to the mouth of the rio Negro, including the lower rio Jauaperi in Brazil.
The Loricaria Cat has a slender body with a camouflage color pattern that covers the entire fish. It is a small species that has unique patterns of abdominal plate development and conspicuous crests on the dorsal surfaces of the head.
Loricaria Catfish (Loricaria sp.)
Loricaria spinulifera is a relatively new species that inhabits the deep river channels of South American rivers and is often misidentified as Loricaria pumila, or Loricaria lundbergi. Loricaria pumila is the smallest known Loricaria that reaches sexual maturity at 3 1/4″ but all three species display a reduction in eye size and pigmentation.
Loricaria Catfish should be housed in a densely planted 30 gallon or larger tank, with a sand or extremely fine gravel substrate, that is highly aerated and heavily filtered. Some smooth river rock and pieces of driftwood, or bogwood
roots can be used to aquascape the tank and give them plenty of hiding places.
Loricaria spinulifera breed by laying their eggs on rocks or plants on the bottom. Although breeding in the aquarium has been accomplished, it is not a common occurrence.
A densely planted tank with good amounts of algae will sustain the Loricaria however, if no algae are is present, supplement their diet with a quality vegetable based flake food and algae wafers. In nature these fish also eat insect larvae, so an occasional offering of bloodworms or tubifex can be made.
Many Loricaria species are sold by tropical fish shops under the generic name Whiptail Cats when they are approximately 4″ to 6″ in size however, there are currently 17 recognized species in this genus that are listed below.
Loricaria apeltogaster Boulenger, 1895
Loricaria birindellii M. R. Thomas & Sabaj Pérez, 2010
Loricaria cataphracta Linnaeus, 1758
Loricaria clavipinna Fowler, 1940
Loricaria coximensis M. S. Rodriguez, Cavallaro & M. R. Thomas, 2012
Loricaria holmbergi M. S. Rodriguez & Miquelarena, 2005
Loricaria lata C. H. Eigenmann & R. S. Eigenmann, 1889
Loricaria lentiginosa Isbrücker, 1979
Loricaria luciae M. R. Thomas, M. S. Rodriguez, Cavallaro, Froehlich & R. M. C. Castro, 2013
Loricaria lundbergi M. R. Thomas & Rapp Py-Daniel, 2008
Loricaria nickeriensis Isbrücker, 1979
Loricaria parnahybae Steindachner, 1907
Loricaria piracicabae R. Ihering (pt), 1907
Loricaria pumila M. R. Thomas & Rapp Py-Daniel, 2008
Loricaria simillima Regan, 1904
Loricaria spinulifera M. R. Thomas & Rapp Py-Daniel, 2008
Loricaria tucumanensis Isbrücker, 1979
Loricaria Catfish (Loricaria sp.)
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 70-75° F, KH 8-10, pH 6.8-7.4
Color Form: Green, Tan, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: South America
Family: Loricariidae
