Kite Pleco Whiptail Catfish (Lamontichthys filamentosus)

Choose Lamontichthys filamentosus for an experienced, strong-flow aquarium

Lamontichthys filamentosus is a slender, armoured suckermouth whiptail catfish from the Amazon, prized for the long, trailing filaments on its dorsal, pectoral and tail fins. Seriously Fish calls it the Sturgeon Catfish and Planet Catfish the Kite Pleco; we sell it as the Kite Pleco Whiptail Catfish. It was first described as Harttia filamentosa in 1935 and is named after Francesca LaMonte, while filamentosus refers to those fin extensions. Planet Catfish notes that it keeps its filaments even through rough shipping.

Seriously Fish gives its range as the central and western Amazon basins in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, in rivers including the Juruá, Madeira, Marañón, Purus, Ucayali and the Amazon itself, and Planet Catfish says most aquarium fish are exported from Iquitos in Peru. It comes from fast-flowing water and, despite its delicate look, enjoys a strong current. FishBase lists it as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessed in 2020).

Be clear-eyed before buying. Seriously Fish recommends this species only for experienced aquarists, and Planet Catfish warns that it often fades away after a few months in captivity because it is hard to wean onto aquarium foods. Kept well, in a group, in clean, fast water, it is one of the most elegant catfish in the hobby.

Identify it by its filaments

Select fish for a group

One purchase supplies one live fish in the standard size we receive. Sex is not specified, and the sources do not give a reliable outward way to sex young fish. The gallery images are representative, prepared from a reference photograph, and do not show the individual you will receive.

Plan the group before you order

• Group size: Seriously Fish says this catfish needs to be kept in a group, and Planet Catfish describes it as peaceful and reasonably well mannered with its own kind.
• Buy together: add the whole group at once to a mature aquarium, so every fish learns the feeding routine at the same time.
• Check every belly: Practical Fishkeeping's advice for whiptails is to reject any fish with a sunken belly or sunken eyes, so look closely at each fish on arrival and tell us at once if one is hollow.

Read our delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy before you order.

Plan a 120 × 45 cm base for a 17 cm adult

Seriously Fish, FishBase and Planet Catfish all give 167 mm standard length, measured without the tail, and the fin filaments add noticeably to the overall length. Some sellers quote 18–20 cm; we use the published figure. Seriously Fish states that an aquarium with a base of at least 120 × 45 cm, about 243 litres, is required for long-term care. Our tank volume calculator turns any set of measurements into litres.

Run a three-step space check

1. Measure the base: at least 120 cm long and 45 cm from front to back, and more for a larger group.
2. Plan the flow: a strong current along the length of the tank, with quieter areas behind stones and wood.
3. Count the grazers: every other algae-eating catfish competes for the same feeding surfaces, so keep them few.

Build a current-swept layout with flat feeding surfaces

Planet Catfish recommends long, sweeping pieces of driftwood, broad, flat stones and, especially for younger fish, long, flat-leaved plants such as Vallisneria. Its keepers found that this catfish feeds only from flat surfaces, and that success comes from experimenting with flow and decoration to create areas of strong current alongside quieter feeding areas. OATA advises sand or fine gravel for all catfish to protect their sensitive barbels.

Divide the footprint by function

Browse our Sturisoma whiptails, close relatives that use similar wood-and-flow layouts.

Set water values inside the overlap

The published temperature ranges barely overlap, so this fish needs a steady, carefully chosen setting rather than a wide band.

Seriously Fish stresses clean, well-oxygenated, stable water. UK tap water varies widely in hardness and pH from region to region; your water company publishes figures for your postcode, and our water matcher compares them with this fish. Our water chemistry guide explains how to adjust readings slowly.

Separate habitat values from waste readings

These limits come from OATA's catfish care sheet, which warns that some catfish are stressed by even small amounts of ammonia and nitrite.

Run oversized filtration and keep the water moving

Seriously Fish advises an oversized filter as a minimum, and Planet Catfish notes the strong current this species enjoys. Combine a powerful filter with a circulation pump to drive water along the tank, keep the surface moving for oxygen, and fit guards to intakes. Our guide to aquarium filtration explains how to size and combine the stages.

Follow a weekly maintenance sequence

1. Test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH before maintenance.
2. Change at least 25% of the water, OATA's weekly minimum for catfish, keeping the temperature at the same setting.
3. Treat new water with a conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramine.
4. Siphon uneaten food from around the feeding stones.
5. Rinse filter media only in removed tank water, and clean pump impellers so the flow stays strong.

Wean it onto prepared foods with patience

Seriously Fish describes a natural diet of benthic algae and the micro-organisms living in them, rasped from surfaces. In the aquarium it accepts quality dried foods and live or frozen bloodworm, but Seriously Fish warns that it may suffer internal problems if the diet holds too much protein, and recommends home-made gelatin-bound foods with plenty of fresh vegetables. Planet Catfish puts the main risk plainly: this fish often fades away after a few months because algae are hard to replace in the aquarium, and success lies in weaning it onto prepared foods.

Build a grazing routine

• Feed on flat surfaces: place sinking wafers and gel food on the broad, flat stones in calmer water.
• Keep it mostly plant-based: vegetable gel foods and quality algae-based wafers, with bloodworm only as an occasional extra.
• Allow grazing time: OATA notes that grazing fish may need up to 30 minutes to feed; remove anything left after that.
• Grow some algae: leave some algae on the back glass, stones and wood as natural grazing.
• Check bellies daily: a flat or hollow belly in the first weeks means the weaning is not working; change the food or its position.

Introduce the group and watch the first weeks

Before the fish arrive, confirm a mature filter, zero ammonia and nitrite, 24°C and a pH of 6.0–7.5, and have the feeding stones in place. Use OATA's floating bag method: switch off the lights, float the sealed bag for about 10 minutes, add small amounts of aquarium water over up to 20 minutes, and release the fish with as little bag water as possible. Our guide to acclimatising new fish covers each step.

Use a first-month checkpoint plan

Watch the group and act on changes

A healthy Kite Pleco rests on wood, stones or glass in the current with its filaments trailing, and grazes steadily. OATA's catfish care sheet lists the warning signs worth acting on.

Choose calm, flow-tolerant tank mates

Seriously Fish advises choosing tank mates carefully. For whiptails in general, Practical Fishkeeping suggests similarly mild-tempered companions such as small tetras, and warns against species that might nip the tail filaments. Because Lamontichthys feeds slowly from flat surfaces, also keep it away from fish that compete hard for food on the bottom.

Decide from the suits and avoid list

A shoal of Rummy Nose Tetra or another of our peaceful tetras can work in midwater once you confirm the temperature suits both. For related whiptails, compare the Royal Whiptail Catfish, Black-Nosed Whiptail Catfish, Bearded Whiptail Catfish and the Twig Catfish (Farlowella acus); our pleco care guide covers the wider family. Browse all South American catfish, our rare and collector fish and catfish and plecos, and check any mix with our tank mates tool.

Learn from the one recorded spawning

Planet Catfish summarises a captive spawning reported by Evers and Seidel at the Zoo Aquarium in Basel, Switzerland. A group of five, four full-size fish and one smaller 12 cm fish that proved to be the spawning male, lived in a 280-litre tank filtered at 4,000 litres per hour, with the current directed to the back. For two weeks beforehand water was changed every second day, lowering the conductivity; at spawning the water was 27°C, 50 µS/cm and pH 7.3. About 45–50 eggs of 3.7–3.9 mm were laid on the glass behind stones and wood, hatched after eight days, and produced fry of 12 mm plus a 1 mm filament. The young died some weeks later through an oversight. These are breeding conditions, not routine keeping values.

Answer Lamontichthys filamentosus buying questions

What is Lamontichthys filamentosus?

It is a slender, armoured suckermouth whiptail catfish (family Loricariidae) from the central and western Amazon. Seriously Fish calls it the Sturgeon Catfish and Planet Catfish the Kite Pleco; it is known for long filaments on its dorsal, pectoral and tail fins.

How big does it grow?

Seriously Fish, FishBase and Planet Catfish all give 167 mm standard length, measured without the tail. The fin filaments add noticeably to the overall length.

What size aquarium does it need?

Seriously Fish gives a minimum base of 120 × 45 cm, about 243 litres, for long-term care. A group needs that floor area at least.

What temperature should I keep it at?

The sources differ: Seriously Fish gives 22–30°C, Planet Catfish 22–24°C and FishBase 24–27°C. A steady 24°C is the only value inside all three ranges, so we suggest holding it there.

Is it hard to keep?

Yes. Seriously Fish recommends it only for experienced aquarists, and Planet Catfish notes that it often fades away after a few months because it is hard to wean onto aquarium foods. Strong flow, flat feeding surfaces and patient feeding are the keys.

What does it eat?

In the wild it rasps algae and the tiny organisms living in them from surfaces. In the aquarium offer quality dried foods, home-made gel foods with plenty of vegetables, and some bloodworm, but avoid a high-protein diet.

Should I keep more than one?

Yes. Seriously Fish says it needs to be kept in a group, and Planet Catfish describes it as peaceful and well mannered with its own kind.

Which tank mates suit it?

Calm midwater fish that tolerate a strong current, such as small tetras. Avoid fin-nippers that target its filaments, and boisterous bottom feeders or large plecos that take over the feeding surfaces.

Consult the care references

• Seriously Fish: Lamontichthys filamentosus (Sturgeon Catfish): names, synonyms, distribution, size, aquarium base, water values, diet, group needs and identification.
• FishBase: Lamontichthys filamentosus: classification, maximum length, temperature, distribution and IUCN status.
• Planet Catfish: Lamontichthys filamentosus (Kite Pleco): common names, identification, export origin, water values, current, feeding difficulty, décor and the Basel spawning.
• Practical Fishkeeping: Whiptail catfish, fab beyond drab: general whiptail buying checks, décor and tank mates.
• OATA: How to look after freshwater catfish: UK guidance for catfish on water quality, sand, introduction, handling, feeding and health signs.
• OATA: How to look after tropical algae eaters: UK guidance on grazing fish, including longer feeding times and supplementary foods.
• Tropical Fish Co delivery policy: current dispatch days and Live Arrival Guarantee terms.