Remarks: The spoon face whiptail is a rare species of catfish from Peru with a very interesting head shape. While most whiptails have pointed snouts, sometimes even resembling twigs or branches, these fish have wide, rounded heads. Like other whiptails, they have long whiskers that help them during feeding and spawning. Their dorsal and caudal fins have long, thin trailers that make for an impressive display.

There are reports of these fish being aggressive towards fish. One report indicates that they would “hunt” adult swordtails and attack them in the open water. We have yet to witness this incredible display, but they should not be kept with small fish out of caution. They spend most of their day buried so soft sand should be provided as to not damage their sensitive bellies and barbels.