Description
Royal Farlowella Whiptail – Elegant and Unique Algae-Eater for Your Aquarium
Introduce a touch of elegance and intrigue to your freshwater tank with the Royal Farlowella Whiptail (Farlowella vittata), a fascinating species known for its long, slender body and graceful, whiptail-like appearance. Native to South America, this stunning fish is an excellent algae-eater and a true centerpiece for aquariums seeking both beauty and functionality.
The Royal Farlowella Whiptail is an extraordinary fish that grows up to 8 inches in length, with its body often appearing like a thin, elongated stick or twig. This unique adaptation allows it to blend seamlessly into its environment, offering a peaceful and mesmerizing presence in your tank. Its long, whip-like tail and armored body give it an elegant and understated beauty.
As a natural algae grazer, the Royal Farlowella Whiptail thrives on biofilm, algae, and other plant matter, making it an excellent choice for maintaining a clean and healthy tank. This peaceful species prefers to stay in the background, often clinging to driftwood, rocks, and plants, where it uses its sucker mouth to graze.
Key Features:
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Unique and Elegant Appearance: Long, slender body with a whip-like tail, mimicking a piece of driftwood or plant, perfect for aquascapes
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Algae-Eater Extraordinaire: Actively grazes on algae and biofilm, helping to maintain a clean aquarium environment
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Peaceful & Non-Invasive: Shy and non-aggressive, perfect for peaceful community tanks
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Ideal for Aquascapes: Its natural camouflage and quiet behavior make it a stunning addition to planted or biotope tanks
Care Guidelines:
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Tank Size: Minimum 30 gallons with plenty of plants, rocks, and driftwood for hiding spots
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Water Temp: 74–82°F (23–28°C)
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pH Range: 6.5–7.5
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Diet: Omnivorous – primarily feeds on algae, biofilm, and plant matter; may also accept sinking pellets and occasional blanched vegetables
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Lifespan: 5–8 years with proper care
Tip: To keep your Royal Farlowella Whiptail happy and healthy, provide ample driftwood or smooth rocks for it to cling to. A soft, sandy substrate will protect its delicate fins and barbels, and good water flow is recommended to simulate its natural, fast-flowing river habitat.
The Royal Farlowella Whiptail is a stunning and functional addition to your aquarium. Its elegant appearance, peaceful nature, and algae-eating habits make it an ideal choice for aquascapes or any community tank in need of a unique and low-maintenance fish.
Whether you’re collecting from our store, ordering dry goods, arranging local delivery or having livestock delivered nationwide, we’ve made it simple to choose the right option.
Click & Collect
FREE COLLECTION FROM OUR STORE
Place your order online and select Click & Collect at checkout.
Livestock will normally be bagged when you arrive, helping to minimise the amount of time animals spend packaged. If you’d prefer your livestock to be ready beforehand, simply contact us in advance.
Local Delivery
DELIVERED BY TROPICAL SUPPLIES • WITHIN 25 MILES
Order from our in-store range and have it delivered directly to you using our own local delivery service.
Minimum order: £50
Local Delivery Charges:
Up to 5 miles — FREE
5–10 miles — £10
10–15 miles — £15
15–20 miles — £20
20–25 miles — £25
Distances are measured “as the crow flies” rather than by road.
Once your order has been placed, we’ll contact you to arrange a suitable delivery date and time. We often combine nearby orders into efficient delivery runs, so local delivery may take a little longer during busy periods.
Ordering a large aquarium?
Please make sure someone is available to help unload the aquarium from our van when we arrive.
Dry Goods Delivery
DX Express
0–75kg • Usually 1 working day
Orders placed before 12 noon may be dispatched the same day on our current dispatch days.
Express Pallet
75–500kg • Usually 1–3 working days
Designed for larger and heavier orders that cannot be sent using our standard parcel service.
Please note: We currently dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Adding Something to an Existing Order?
If your original order hasn’t been dispatched yet, simply place the additional items as a Click & Collect order and leave us a note asking us to combine them with your existing order.
Available to Order
See something you want that we don’t currently have on the shelf? Many of our products can be quickly sourced from our suppliers.
Products marked Available to Order are not currently held in stock at our store but are available for us to order on your behalf.
Most items arrive with us within a few days and usually no longer than a week, depending on supplier availability.
Once your item arrives with us, we’ll either dispatch your order or let you know it’s ready for collection, depending on the delivery option you selected.
After receiving your order, we’ll check availability with our supplier. If there are any issues or expected delays, we’ll contact you to let you know.
Nationwide Livestock Delivery
Have your new livestock delivered safely to your door using our specialist livestock delivery service.
Minimum livestock order: £50
Thursday Delivery — £24
Order by: Wednesday, 12 noon
Dispatched: Wednesday afternoon
Delivered: Thursday before 1pm
Friday Delivery — £24
Order by: Thursday, 12 noon
Dispatched: Thursday afternoon
Delivered: Friday before 1pm
Saturday Delivery — £29
Order by: Friday, 12 noon
Dispatched: Friday afternoon
Delivered: Saturday before 1pm
Add Dry Goods to Your Livestock Order
You can include dry goods with your livestock delivery, making it easy to top up food, treatments, equipment and other supplies at the same time.
Please note: Frozen food cannot be shipped with livestock and must be ordered separately.
Already Placed Your Order?
No problem. If your livestock order hasn’t been dispatched yet, place another order using Click & Collect and leave us a note asking us to combine it with your existing order.
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.