Peruvian Whiptail Catfish

About

Found in the Ucayali River basin of Peru, this whiptail loricariid, Rineloricaria morrowi, is one of those species you have to seek out a little. It doesn't turn up in shops as readily as some of its relatives, and you may still encounter it labeled under the briefly-used synonym Hemiloricaria morrowi. Like other members of the genus, it has the classic flattened, elongated body profile and armored plating that make loricariids so recognizable, built for hugging the bottom in flowing Amazonian waters. Despite the temperament tags you sometimes see attached to it, this is actually a quite peaceable fish outside of spawning season, doing well in communities of calm, similarly-sized species. It does become territorial around breeding time, and males guard eggs with real dedication. Cleaning a chosen cave, fertilizing the clutch, and fanning the eggs until they hatch, all without any help from the female. That paternal behavior makes it genuinely interesting to breed, though raising the fry takes some patience and attention to feeding and water quality. Keep it in a group rather than as a singleton, avoid boisterous tankmates that will push it off food, and provide plenty of cover. The genus is also capable of facultative air-breathing, a handy adaptation for life in seasonally variable Peruvian waters.