Tuira's Whiptail

Remarks: The Tuira's whiptail is an uncommon species of whiptail not often imported into the United States. In the wild, they are actually not found in the Rio Tuira, but rather in the fast flowing section of the Rio Xingu where they get their other common name, the marbled Xingu whiptail. The Tuira part of their common name actually comes from the fish being named after a Kayapo woman that was considered a symbol of résistance in regards to hydroelectric dams being built on the Rio Xingu. Another fascinating thing to note about this species is that it ended a 70 year long time-frame in which no new species in the Spatuloricaria had been described once it was first recorded in 2014.

  As they are a rapids-dwelling species, Tuira's whiptails require pristine water and high levels of dissolved oxygen to thrive. They are a smaller whiptail with the males actually being the smallest of their genus, typically maxing out at 5-6" in length. Another unique aspect is that they are the only members of their genus where the females grow larger than the males, typically growing to 6-7" in length. This makes them a good choice for medium sized aquariums as they do not require quite as much spaces as other, larger whiptail species. The Tuira's whiptail can be a great choice if you are looking for an omnivorous whiptail that won't be too much competition for species like Otocinclus catfish as they tend to not care much for algae. Instead, they should be provided a varied diet consisting of both meaty and vegetable based foods. If all their needs are met, these whiptails can be fascinating talking point for your South American community tank.