Tag Archives: Whiptail catfish

Pseudohemiodon laticeps

10. July 2020

Pseudohemiodon laticeps from Paraguay belongs to the longest known mouth-breeding Whiptail Catfish in the hobby, even if this large (up to 35 cm) species with its species-specific broad, triangular head was confused for a long time with the very similar, narrow-headed species P. platycephalus from Brazil. Mostly one sees both species in a fawn-brown colouring with a darker wormline pattern; concerning the colouring there are actually no differences between the two species.

Through the imports of P. sp. “Chamaeleon” from Peru and P. apithanos from Venezuela, attention was drawn to the wide colour spectrum that can also be shown by Whiptail Catfish. We currently have a consignment of wild collected specimens of P. laticeps from Paraguay in stock, where some specimens show a dark coloration, which is so far unknown to us from P. laticeps. It is possible that breeders will develop a contrast-colored strain of P. laticeps from such animals – who knows?

These Whiptail Catfish require aquariums with the largest possible floor area, as little decoration as possible, fine sandy bottom and good water hygiene. All common fish feeds can be used as food, but large live bloodworm are an ideal food for the animals. Especially Pseudohemiodon laticeps can be kept in moderately heated aquariums due to its southern origin, because in its home country the water temperature drops to values around 16°C at least during certain seasons.

For our customers: the animals have code 284303 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hemiloricaria lanceolata Red

8. June 2018

It was back in the 1980ies that a brick-red sport of whiptail catfish appeared in the former GDR. The real origin of the fish stays a mystery, but it was possible to cross it with Hemiloricaria (formerly Rineloricaria) lanceolata. The strains that exist nowadays are most probably all hybrids. The initial red whiptail catfish belonged most probably to another species than H. lanceolata (see Evers & Seidel, Wels-Atlas, Vol. 1: 694, for details).

In November 2015 we obtained an importation of wild collected H. lanceolata from Paraguay. It contained a single brick-red male specimen. This animal – along with some regulary coloured females – was given to our proofed breeder Kurt Jülich who succeeded in breeding them! Now we can offer for the very first time brick-red whiptail catfish from that new strain.

For our customers: the fish have code 288524 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text: Frank Schäfer, Photos: Dirk Stojek & Frank Schäfer

Hemiloricaria melini

10. November 2017

Lately we introduced to you Hemiloricaria sp. „Puerto Ayacucho“, a species known so far from Venezuela only, which we could import along with Hemiloricaria melini from Brazil. This post led to a number of requests wether we could also depict the imported melini-Whiptails.

Well, we can: here they are!

Hemiloricaria melini forms along with H. formosa, H. teffeana and H. sp. „Barcelos“ a small complex of so-called „Apache Whiptails“ that have in common a very attractive leopard pattern. H. melini is said to become about 10 cm long in literature, but our specimens are already about 15 cm long. The beautiful fish should be kept on fine sand bottom in soft and acidic water.

For our customers: the fish have code 288675 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer