Rineloricaria

The common whiptail catfish, Rineloricaria eigenmanni, is a peaceful loricariid from Colombia and Venezuela, found among leaf litter over sand. One of the most common species sold as 'whiptail catfish', it breeds quite easily and suits a newcomer to catfish breeding. It is often mixed up with other species: in R. eigenmanni the black bars on the caudal peduncle continue right around the fish, and the fins are barred.

Rineloricaria fallax is a whiptail catfish from the upper Rupununi and Branco river basins in Guyana and Brazil. One of the most common species sold as 'whiptail catfish', it breeds quite easily and suits a newcomer to catfish breeding. It lives among leaf litter over sand in shallow, flowing water, and is very peaceful but easily out-competed for food.

Rineloricaria lanceolata is a whiptail catfish from Peru and Brazil, usually found among leaf litter over sandy substrates. One of the most common species sold as 'whiptail catfish', it breeds quite easily in suitable conditions, although the fry can be tricky to raise. Very peaceful, it is easily out-competed for food by vigorous or aggressive tankmates.

Rineloricaria morrowi is a loricariid catfish from the Ucayali River basin, Peru, found among leaf litter over sandy substrates. It is seen less often than some others in the genus. Briefly placed in the resurrected genus Hemiloricaria in 2002, it was returned to Rineloricaria within a year, but the old name is still used quite often.

Rineloricaria parva is a whiptail catfish from Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, found among leaf litter over sandy substrates. Commonly sold as a 'whiptail catfish', it is difficult to identify: the true R. parva has dark bands across the top of the body only and filaments on the top and bottom of the caudal fin. Some fish seen for sale may be hybrids with other species.

The red lizard catfish (Rineloricaria sp., L010a) is a red whiptail catfish of unclear origin, and all fish seen for sale appear to be tank-bred. Some believe it derives from a wild fish, possibly from Paraguay, while others suggest a selectively-bred form of R. lanceolata or a hybrid with it. Very peaceful, it breeds quite easily in suitable conditions.