The Red Lizard Catfish (Rineloricaria sp.) is a South American suckermouth catfish of the Loricariidae family. Its shape is quite unusual, with its thin, twig-like appearance. The majority of experts believe it to be a man-made cross, and all aquarium specimens are tank-bred. They usually congregate in a little cluster near plant cover.
They are great algae grazers, but they also enjoy zucchini and need a steady supply of vegetable-based food. These bright, beautiful fish will enjoy whatever delicious treat you choose for them. Their wonderfully inquisitive form and color scheme will add a splash of excitement to any aquarium.
The Red Lizard Catfish is mostly nocturnal but will become active during the day once it has been added to an aquarium with plenty of driftwood, rockwork, and other concealment options. It isn't known to eat the wood in large amounts, but it may benefit from supplementary wood (or rather the biofilm on driftwood) in its diet.
The Red Lizard Catfish will not harm most plants. Feed the Red Lizard Catfish an omnivorous diet. Many breeders and keepers of this fish claim that it must have a consistent diet rich in meaty live and frozen foods of appropriate sizes, such as bloodworms and Daphnia, to thrive. It will also benefit from being fed some fresh, seasonal veggies, such as shelled peas, spinach, zucchini, and cucumber.
The Red Lizard Catfish is a peaceful fish that gets along with most other non-aggressive fish and invertebrates. It's conceivable that larger specimens could consume tiny dwarf shrimp, especially their fry. However, some aquarists have no difficulty keeping the Red Lizard Catfish with their shrimp colonies. The Red Lizard Catfish grows to a modest length of 4.7 inches and is a very thin fish that seldom accounts for the bioload produced by much thicker fish of similar length.
Quick Facts about Red Lizard Catfish
Red Lizard Catfish Care
This is a lovely and delicate-looking loricariid that would look great in a quiet, soft water planted aquarium. It's a calm fish that thrives in groups of six or more (6+) in an established tank with plenty of shaded nooks amid plants, driftwood, slate caves, and PVC pipes. Filtration should be efficient while maintaining a slow water flow. Tankmates should be of comparable size and disposition, such as some of the smaller pencil fish, tetras, and Corydoras species. Tankmates that are boisterous when feeding time arrives should be avoided because these sedentary little catfish will not compete effectively.
To take care of them properly, provide a diet of live, frozen, and freeze-dried bloodworms, brine shrimp, and blackworms. Sinking catfish pellets and tablets are also readily accepted. It is also important to keep the water parameters stable, as they are very sensitive to changes. The water should be soft to medium hardness and slightly acidic with a temperature in the range of 70-83°F. The ideal pH range is 5.5-8.0.
Red Lizard Catfish Size
This is a very manageable fish, with a maximum length of 4.4 inches (11 cm). Their growth rate is also quite slow, so you won’t have to worry about them getting too big for your tank. The factors that affect their size the most are their diet, and surroundings.
Red Lizard Catfish Lifespan
The average lifespan of a Red Lizard Catfish is around 5-8 years, but with the right care, they can live more than that.
To ensure that your fish lives a long and healthy life, it is important to provide them with a clean and spacious tank, as well as a nutritious diet. Regular water tests will also help to keep an eye on the water conditions and make sure that they are ideal for your fish.
Red Lizard Catfish Appearance
As they mature, these plecos acquire a brilliant crimson color. These Red tailed lizard catfish have a very thin, twig-like appearance with strong markings and coloration. The fish are long and thin, with no visible barbels, an erect dorsal fin, a very thin caudal peduncle, and a tiny face.
The majority of the fish are light brown in color with darker spots and have a dark dorsal fin. They also have bony plates and a sucker disk mouth, which is typical of most fish in the Loricariidae family. They also have long barbels on their face, which they use to help them find food.
Sexual dimorphism
Males have small spines on top of their heads and pectoral fins, while females do not.
Red Lizard Catfish Behavior
These are one of the most peaceful catfish available. They may be combined with a wide range of species. In a natural environment, tiny characins, Apistogramma, Corydoras, and other quiet loricariids are excellent tankmates, but they may be kept in almost any community of peaceful fish.
Don't keep it with anything too energetic or aggressive, as it will become extremely retiring and be readily out-competed for food. Unless spawning, it's not territorial and hence they can be kept in a small group. When selecting tankmates, keep in mind that it doesn't do well at higher
Red Lizard Catfish Tank Mates
These are one of the most peaceful catfish in the world, and they can be combined with a wide range of other species. In a natural arrangement, small characins, Apistogramma, Corydoras, and other quiet loricariids are acceptable tankmates, but they can be kept in most community tanks of peaceful fish. Some of the best tank mates include:
- Plecos
- Electric Blue Ram
- Corydoras
- Tetras
- Red Spotted Severum
- Gouramis
- Barbs
- German Blue Ram
- Angel Fish
- Kuhli Loach
Red Lizard Catfish Tank Setup
The Red Lizard Catfish is a peaceful community fish that does well in most aquariums. They are active bottom dwellers that require a substrate of sand or fine gravel to burrow and hide in.
A minimum tank size of 30 gallons is recommended, with at least two feet of water depth. Provide plenty of hiding places and cover for these fish to feel secure. Rocks, driftwood, and live plants all make good choices.
A healthy environment is created in planted aquariums with adequate aeration and movement. A natural environment can be enhanced with rocks and driftwood to provide hiding places for the Red Lizard catfish, which are prone to stress.
For lighting, a simple setup with an incandescent bulb on an adjustable timer will suffice. They always prefer Dim lights. Brighter lighting can be utilized if adequate plants are present to diffuse the light.
Red Lizard Catfish Breeding
The fish may be bred in a matter of days if maintained properly and fed adequately, although the fry might be difficult to raise. To give yourself the best probability of obtaining a pair, start with a group of 6 or more juvenile fish.
Set up the tank using pipes of less than 2″ diameter to provide spawning caves. The water should be just on the acidic side of neutral and gentle. Feed the fish a diet rich in nutrients including kale, spinach, etc., as well as live and frozen bloodworm or comparable.
A male will choose a particular cave and clean it thoroughly while in spawning condition. This is where the female deposits her eggs, which the male then fertilizes. The female takes no further role in brood care, with the duty of protecting and caring for the eggs being the sole responsibility of the male.
He keeps watching over the cave, preventing intruders while fanning the eggs with his fins. You may decide to remove the other fish or the tube itself to a separate tank at this point in order to avoid predation of the fry.
If you’re having trouble spawning these fish, try conducting a large (50-70%) water change with cool water, simulating the influx of colder water the rainy season brings in nature. Repeat every few days and the fish will often spawn.
Red Lizard Catfish Fry
In 4-5 days, the eggs hatch, and the fry are free swimming 2 or 3 days later, after which time the male may be removed. They may be fed with cucumber slices, spinach, and other greens right away. They will also take the small worm and brine shrimp nauplii.
The most essential thing now is that the fry does not go hungry. They require constant access to a food source, and any vegetable matter must be soft enough for them to digest. Pre-softened kale and spinach leaves or algae cultivated on rocks in a lighted tank are other options. They are also susceptible to water quality, and small daily water changes are advised.
Red Lizard Catfish Diseases
The Red Lizard Catfish is a very hearty and disease-resistant fish. However, like all animals, they are susceptible to certain illnesses if water conditions are not ideal or if they are not properly cared for. Some of the more common diseases include:
Proper care and maintenance of your Red Lizard Catfish will help to ensure a long and healthy life. If you suspect that your fish are sick, contact a qualified veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
FAQ
How Do Red Lizard Catfish Breed?
Red Lizard Catfish are egg-layers. The female will deposit her eggs in a cave or similar hiding place, and the male will fertilize them. The female takes no further part in raising the young, with the obligation of defending and caring for them being solely the responsibility of the male. He keeps watching over the cave, protecting it from intruders while fanning the eggs with his fins. With little to no parental care, the fry has a high mortality rate.
Do Red Lizard Catfish Eat Algae?
Red Lizard Catfish are not algae-eaters. They are opportunistic feeders that will consume whatever food is available, but their diet should consist primarily of meaty foods such as worms, shrimp, and fish.
What Set-up Do They Require?
Red Lizard Whiptail prefers a well-oxygenated, planted aquarium with bog wood with a sandy or gravel substrate. They will appreciate plenty of hiding places and shaded areas within the tank.
How Big Do They Get?
They can grow to be up to 11 cm in length. The fish you'll get will be about 3-4 cm long.
How Many Can Be Kept Together?
You can keep up to 6 Red Lizard Catfish together. Any more than that and they may become territorial towards each other. For keeping a group, we recommend an aquarium size of at least 75 gallons.
Can They Be Captive Bred?
Yes, given the proper circumstances, these whip tails can be bred readily and may make a fascinating breeding project.
Final Thoughts
The Red Lizard Catfish is a hardy and disease-resistant fish that makes a great addition to any peaceful community aquarium. They are not fussy eaters, but their diet should consist primarily of meaty foods such as worms, shrimp, and fish.
They prefer a well-oxygenated, planted aquarium with bog wood with a sandy or gravel substrate. They'll appreciate a variety of hiding spots and shaded places within the tank. The Red Lizard Catfish are brooders, laying eggs. The female will lay her eggs in a cave or some other hiding spot, and the male will fertilize them.
You can keep up to 6 Red Lizard Catfish together, but more than that and they may become aggressive towards one another. They can grow to be up to 11cm long. These whip tails can be bred in captivity if the circumstances are right. Proper care and maintenance of your Red Lizard Catfish will ensure a long, healthy existence. If you suspect that your fish are sick, get help from a veterinarian. With proper care, your Red Lizard Catfish will provide you with years of enjoyment!!
