Whiptail Catfish

Sturisoma Barbatum

Whiptails are long thin catfish native to regions of South America. Places where it can be found include the Amazon basis and Columbia. It has a widely forked tail and a pointed snout. For this reason it is known to some as the long nosed whiptail.

The whiptail's sleek body shape is ideal for hugging the bottom of fast flowing streams. Light and dark brown blotches make it well camouflaged against gravel or dead leaves and debris. The whiptail catfish is like a fallen twig to look at with it's slender profile. It is often mistaken for a variety of farlowella catfish because they both look very similar.

Water for the whiptail should be oxygenated and and clean. Nitrates and ammonia will not be well received so make water changes regularly.

This omnivorous catfish should be fed with spirulina fish food and frozen worms. They will also consume algae found growing on the aquarium surfaces..

Family - Loricariidae

Size - Grows to 25 cm

Fish Origin - South America

Water - Neutral to slightly acid soft water.

Temperature - 22-26°C

Feeding - Algae based foods

Sexing - Male adults grow spines on the sides of head

Breeding - Egg layer

Aquarium - Provide driftwood on the substrate

As a peaceful species this catfish can be kept in a community aquarium. Just be aware that fish that tend to nip fins will snap at the more delicate fins of the whiptail catfish.

Other Aquarium Catfish 

Sterbai's Cory | Glass Catfish | Eel Tail Catfish | Sailfin Plecostamus
Bronze Corydoras | Cuckoo Catfish | Bristlenose Catfish | Banjo Catfish | Aquarium Fish