Red lizard whiptail catfish

Rineloricaria lanceolata is a small, elongated whiptail catfish from the western Amazon and Paraguay river basins; the popular orange-red aquarium strain, marketed as the Red Lizard Whiptail, is a selectively bred colour form of this species. Peaceful and social, it can be kept singly or in small groups and coexists happily with other calm community fish. It occupies the bottom, resting on wood, stones and broad leaves. Provide soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic to neutral water, gentle flow, fine sand and plenty of driftwood, which it grazes for biofilm. It is an omnivore leaning vegetarian: feed sinking algae wafers, blanched vegetables such as courgette, and small frozen foods for variety. A prolific cave and tube spawner in the aquarium, with the male fanning and defending the egg clutch. Keep nitrate low and avoid sudden parameter swings.