Product Details

Blood Red Whiptail Catfish – Rineloricaria sp.

The Blood Red Whiptail Catfish is a striking ornamental whiptail catfish with a slender body, long tail filament and rich red to orange-red colouration. Also sold as the Red Lizard Whiptail, Red Whiptail Catfish, L010A Whiptail or Red Lizard Catfish, this peaceful loricariid is best suited to mature planted aquariums with soft substrate, driftwood, caves and calm tank mates. It is elegant, unusual and manageable in size, but it should not be treated as a hard-working algae cleaner or a fish for brand-new aquariums.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Blood Red Whiptail Catfish
Other Names: Red Lizard Whiptail, Red Whiptail Catfish, L010A Whiptail, Red Lizard Catfish
Scientific Name: Rineloricaria sp.
Older / Trade Name: L010A, Red Lizard Whiptail Catfish
Strain / Form: Captive-bred red ornamental whiptail form
Fish Type: Whiptail Catfish / Loricariid Catfish
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

The Blood Red Whiptail Catfish is generally sold as a red ornamental Rineloricaria form rather than a confirmed wild species. Related Rineloricaria whiptails are South American loricariid catfish found in streams, rivers and quiet margins with sand, leaf litter, submerged wood, stones and shaded cover.

In the aquarium, this fish should be provided with a mature, natural-style setup. Fine sand, smooth stones, driftwood, plants, slate caves, ceramic tubes or PVC-style shelters all help create suitable resting and spawning areas. It prefers a calm, stable aquarium rather than a rough or overcrowded community tank.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Blood Red Whiptail Catfish have a very slender, flattened body with a pointed head, sucker-type mouth and a long whip-like tail extension. The red form can vary from orange-red and brick-red through to deeper blood-red tones, depending on age, mood, diet, lighting and breeding line.

Adults usually reach around 10–12 cm, with the tail filament adding extra length and visual impact. Mature males may develop small bristles or odontodes around the head and pectoral area, especially when in breeding condition, while females are usually rounder-bodied when mature.

Aquarium Suitability:

This species is well suited to peaceful planted aquariums, soft-water community tanks and specialist catfish displays. It needs a mature aquarium with stable water quality, shaded resting areas and food that reaches the bottom.

Blood Red Whiptails are peaceful and plant-safe, but they are not ideal for boisterous aquariums with fast, aggressive feeders. They are also not a substitute for algae control. Although they may graze surfaces, they require a proper balanced diet with both vegetable and protein-based foods.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 80–100 litres for a small group, with a tank length of at least 75–90 cm recommended. Larger aquariums are better for mixed peaceful communities or groups of adults.

They can be kept singly, in pairs or in groups, but groups should be given multiple caves, tubes and shaded resting areas. Avoid overcrowding the bottom of the aquarium with too many competing catfish.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 24–28°C
pH: 6.0–7.5
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Clean, stable water is important. Provide efficient filtration, gentle to moderate flow and good oxygenation without blasting the fish around the tank. Fine sand or smooth substrate is recommended. Avoid sharp gravel, dirty substrate, unstable new aquariums and aggressive water movement.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Blood Red Whiptail Catfish are very peaceful and suitable for calm community aquariums. Good tank mates include small to medium tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, peaceful livebearers in suitable water, dwarf cichlids, cory-type catfish, Otocinclus and other gentle community fish.

Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids, fin-nipping species, boisterous barbs and very competitive bottom feeders. They should not be kept with fish that will harass them at feeding time or damage their delicate tail filament.

Feeding:

Blood Red Whiptails are omnivorous grazers and bottom-foragers. Offer quality sinking tablets, fine catfish pellets, algae wafers, spirulina foods and vegetable-based sinking foods as the staple diet.

Supplement with frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp and finely chopped meaty foods. Blanched courgette, cucumber, spinach or other suitable vegetables may also be accepted. They may graze biofilm and soft algae, but they must not be expected to survive on algae alone.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This is a quiet bottom-dwelling catfish that often rests on sand, wood, plant leaves, stones or cave entrances. It moves by short gliding motions rather than constant fast swimming and may become more active during feeding or in dimmer light.

Breeding is possible in mature aquariums. Pairs may use narrow tubes, caves or similar shelters, with the male often guarding the eggs until they hatch. Providing several suitable spawning tubes can help reduce competition and encourage natural behaviour.

Care Notes:

Add Blood Red Whiptail Catfish only to a mature, stable aquarium. Provide soft substrate, shaded hiding places, driftwood, tubes or caves and peaceful tank mates.

Make sure food reaches the bottom, as whiptails can be outcompeted by faster fish. Avoid rough décor that could damage the body or tail filament. Regular water changes, low waste levels and stable conditions are important for long-term health. Newly introduced fish may be shy, so dim lighting and cover will help them settle.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Occasional / Usually captive-bred ornamental form

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, colour, pattern, fin shape, body tone and markings can occur between individual fish.