Tank size for Whiptails

[nickmcmechan]

Was looking at Whiptails in the LFs today.

Great fish!

Was wondering about tank size for this one.

I understand they must be kept in groups of at least two.

However, my understanding is also that the required tank size isn't that big as the bulk of their body, and therefore bio-load, is small. Can they be kept in a 100 litre?

 

[toddnbecka]

I'd recommend at least a 30-35cm tank with good water flow (assuming you mean Loricaria spp). They're similar to BN pleco's regarding tank size, territoriality, and general compatability. They will occaisonally spawn in aquariums, PVC pipe makes a good spawning cave, the male will guard the eggs until they hatch.

 

[nickmcmechan]

My tank is 80cm long, 100 litre capacity, so that should be big enough then?

 

[toddnbecka]

OOps, I goofed, meant 30-35 inches, generally a 30 gallon tank. You should be able to house a pair or 1m/2f in that size tank w/out problems. (At least between the whiptails, other tankmates are another matter...) You would be best to avoid stocking other substrate-spawning species, that way there's no territory disputes between species, and chances of the whiptails spawning successfully are greater.

 

[nickmcmechan]

Thanks, good advice! Think my next purchase will be Whiptails!

However, just over an Ich outbreak so I'll leave for about a Month or so until everything settles back down.

Thanks.

 

[nickmcmechan]

OOps, I goofed, meant 30-35 inches, generally a 30 gallon tank. You should be able to house a pair or 1m/2f in that size tank w/out problems. (At least between the whiptails, other tankmates are another matter...) You would be best to avoid stocking other substrate-spawning species, that way there's no territory disputes between species, and chances of the whiptails spawning successfully are greater.

How do you sex whiptails?

 

[nickmcmechan]

And would whiptails be compatible with a Clown Plec and 6 Pygmy Corys at the Bottom. I also have a pair of Apistos who hang around the bottom.

 

[Jayhawk]

I had two whiptails with a clown pleco at one point - with no prolbems. You do have a lot of folks at the bottom level of your tank, though. My whiptails spent a lot of time hanging around on the plant leaves and driftwood - so I'd not consider them, based on my experience, to be bottom dwellers any more than otos are.

Eric