Witch catfish 10-12 cm - Rineloricaria fallax

The pretty brown patterned witch cat fish or dwarf catfish (Rineloricaria fallax) from South America stands out due to its rather slender body shape with a long backward extended hind body. There is also a red breeding form of the witch catfish. Witch catfishes belong to the armored catfishes. They reach a body length of approx. 12 cm and fit therefore also into smaller aquariums starting from 80 cm length. In nature they often live in fast flowing streams with low water levels and very clear, clean water - so they fit very well in an oxygen-rich current aquarium or stream aquarium, but also in a conventional tank with good current and clean water.

The Dwarf Loricariid is a peaceful aquarium fish that is comfortable in pairs or in a small group. Sufficient hiding places should be available. If there are not enough hiding places in the aquarium, fights between the males may occur. Rineloricaria fallax can be socializedwith other fish and also with shrimps without any problems.

In the aquarium for witch catfish there should be soft wood for scraping - especially bogwood is optimal. For a functioning digestion loricariids are dependent on the dietary fibers of the wood fibers! Caves and other hiding places should also be abundant in an aquarium for Rineloricaria fallax.

Males of the Witch Catfish can be easily identified by their whiskers of appendages growing on the sides of their heads. They may also exhibit "body hair" that females lack. Breeding in the aquarium is possible. Witch Catfish are cave breeders, with females preferring narrow tubes for spawning. The males engage in brood care, cleaning and guarding the clutch of up to 200 eggs until the young catfish hatch.

Witch catfish do not have high demands on the water values in the aquarium, soft to medium hard water is well tolerated. The temperature should be between 25-30 °C.

The omnivorous Witch Catfish likes to dig in the gravel or sand for food. Algae coverings are rather less grazed. Rineloricaria fallax likes to eat green food, various scalded vegetables and of course brown autumn leaves, but also frozen food and special wafer or tab food for loricariid catfish.

Our food recommendation: The NatureHolic Catfishfeed for all aufwuchs feeding sucking catfish in the aquarium is a balanced tablet food, which does not cloud the water and the fish like to eat. The catfish tablets also contain NatureHolic active ingredient complexes, which provide the sucking catfish with everything they need for a strong immune system, healthy growth and great, contrasting coloration. As a snack, supplementary food or vacation food we recommend the CatfishPlates.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.

Dispensing size: 4-8cm