Loricaria Simillima

Datasheet

General Description

The Marbled Whiptail, scientifically known as Loricaria Simillima, is a species within the Loricariidae family. There is a considerable amount of uncertainty surrounding its true identity due to the existence of various differently colored imported specimens. These fish are popular in aquariums due to their intriguing parental care behavior and are often utilized for breeding projects.

Aquarium Setup

The Marbled Whiptail requires a minimum tank size of 70 liters with a soft, sandy substrate and plenty of shaded spots and hiding places. Decor choice is flexible, including driftwood, smooth rocks, and PVC pipes. Live plants can also be added for additional cover. Water conditions should be maintained at a pH range of 5.6-7.8, hardness of 1-20 degrees dH, and a temperature between 24-27 degrees Celsius (see table for more details).

Behaviour

This species is known for its peaceful nature and tends to be out-competed for food by more active tankmates. It thrives best when kept with small characins, peaceful cichlids, and catfish such as Corydoras or other Loricariids. Marbled Whiptails exhibit amicable behavior with conspecifics and usually do well when housed in a group.

Feeding and Diet

Marbled Whiptails are omnivorous, with a diet mainly consisting of aquatic invertebrates in the wild. In captivity, they can be fed live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia, and chopped earthworms. Their diet can be supplemented with dried sinking foods and occasional slices of cucumber or courgette.

Reproduction & Dimorphism

Breeding Marbled Whiptails in aquariums is possible but not a common occurrence. The breeding process involves obtaining a small group to increase the chances of pair formation, providing a varied diet, and ensuring proper water conditions for spawning. Male Marbled Whiptails exhibit sexual dimorphism with greatly enlarged mouthparts as they mature, and they exhibit intriguing parental care behaviors, including carrying broods of eggs.

Habitat and Distribution

Marbled Whiptails inhabit various habitats such as whitewater and blackwater streams, rivers, and tributaries. They can be found in regions across Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Further studies may reveal some of these populations to be distinct species due to the species' wide distribution and varying collection locations.