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A wholesaler that supplies my LFS has some "Caqueta Dragon Whiptails" in stock; supposedly the exporter labeled them as Rhadinoloricaria andaki, and they were (as the name suggests) caught in the Caqueta region. I do have a setup for some juvenile Spatuloricaria caquetae I was intending on getting in a few weeks, and I think I could keep a few Rhadinoloricaria in it, at least until I can set up more permanent quarters for them. Problem is, the wholesaler has no pictures; and if I want my LFS to get some I'll have to preorder them. Each fish is $70, and I have no idea if the fish are even the labelled species, or if they're in good health.
I would eventually want to spawn them, if I get both sexes (and assuming they're the right species); but I don't know if that's feasible in the home aquaria due to their specific needs.
Is it worth the gamble?

Hi.

I'm in Peru right now and there are some Rhadinoloricaria at a local exporter's shop. Beautiful fish. IDK what they'll cost by the time they get to the US, but they are nice... even so, I'd be hesitant at $70 each because I'd want to buy 6 or more.

Can't tell you what to do, whether price is fair, but you'll like the fish IMHO.

Cheers, Eric

bekateen wrote: ↑12 Aug 2024, 03:00 Hi.

I'm in Peru right now and there are some Rhadinoloricaria at a local exporter's shop. Beautiful fish. IDK what they'll cost by the time they get to the US, but they are nice... even so, I'd be hesitant at $70 each because I'd want to buy 6 or more.

Can't tell you what to do, whether price is fair, but you'll like the fish IMHO.

Cheers, Eric

Thanks!
I asked my LFS to order one, so that I could see the fish's health and determine species before I got more.
I think I saw R. macromystax, or some other Rhadinoloricaria being sold for ~$110 each (or at least somewhere in the hundred-dollar range) a long time ago; and from what I can find I can expect to pay ~$60-100 per fish online- based on that I think $70 isn't terrible. Would probably be the last few fish I get in a while, though.
They're awfully sensitive to water parameters, from what I've heard; a Japanese article? I managed to find claimed nearly half out of a dozen died within the first week of receiving them, and an Aquarium Glaser article on macromystax claimed their supplier had trouble acclimating them. Kinda troubling, but I won't know until I get a few, I suppose.
I forgot I had left a Xyliphius in the tank where I had planned to put the Rhadinoloricaria; d'you reckon I can just leave him in there? Was gonna get him a female, but I guess I'll have to put that plan on hold for the forseeable future.

I haven't had them myself, so I can't speak to water sensitivity or behavior, but I think they'd be okay with the banjo.

@Norman, do you know if Rhadinoloricaria are sensitive and difficult to keep? Also, are they known to jump out of tanks in a panic? (My griseus did that). Thanks in advance.

Cheers, Eric

bekateen wrote: ↑12 Aug 2024, 14:14 I haven't had them myself, so I can't speak to water sensitivity or behavior, but I think they'd be okay with the banjo.

@Norman, do you know if Rhadinoloricaria are sensitive and difficult to keep? Also, are they known to jump out of tanks in a panic? (My griseus did that). Thanks in advance.

Cheers, Eric

The LFS contacted the wholesaler; unfortunately, the pics they sent were that of Spatuloricaria caquetae
Bit of a shame, as I really wanted some Rhadinoloricaria. Probably shouldn't have gotten my hopes up so soon.
I don't think I'll get any of those Spatuloricaria, as they don't seem to be in the best of health, and I can get healthier individuals elsewhere.
Might just get a female Xyliphius for the male I have in the meantime.
Thanks again for the advice and help! Sorry to hear that your Limatulichthys jumped out. Hopefully you have better luck with them in the future.

Picture the wholesaler sent: