Chameleon Whiptail 4-6cm

The Chameleon Whiptail Catfish is well-known for its remarkable ability to change color, allowing it to blend into the shallow leaf-litter strewn sandy areas of its natural habitat. These bottom-dwelling fish are best suited for spacious, mature aquariums with neutral to soft, slightly acidic conditions. To mimic their natural environment, it’s important to provide a large expanse of soft sand substrate along with shady hiding spots created by driftwood and rocky caves. In well-lit tanks, open sand areas can be shaded using floating plants or large, broad-leaved plants such as Anubias.

During daylight hours, these catfish tend to remain partially buried, so adding dried leaf litter to the aquarium further replicates their natural habitat. It’s advisable to keep them in groups and ensure that tankmates are peaceful and tend to swim above the substrate. The presence of other fish swimming around may even encourage these reclusive catfish to be more visible. However, it’s essential to monitor closely for any signs of other fish disturbing the inactive catfish.

In order to keep nitrogenous wastes to a minimum, good filtration and frequent partial water changes are crucial. It’s important to note that while effective filtration is necessary, excessive water flow within the aquarium should be avoided.