SCOTCAT.COM

your internet guide to all things catfish

Sturisomatichthys aureus (Steindachner, 1900)

Image contributors to this species:

Martin Danielse (1) Melaine Riddell (1) Steven Pritchard (2) Allan James (2) Mark Henry Sabaj (1) Kiruya Momochi (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

This species and Sturisomatichthys festivus are very much alike and the care is the same for both species. The work carried out by Covain et.al. 2016 confines the Sturisoma genera to east of the Andes (cis-Andean), and the Sturisomatichthys genera restricted to the west of the Andes (trans-Andean). Reproduction: As per this genus will lay eggs usually on the tank walls and the male will guard and fan the eggs. The eggs will hatch between 7 to 9 days and the youngsters will eat Artemia, minced lettuce and mashed peas. Aquarium Care: Large planted aquarium with non aggressive tank mates. Regular water changes must be adhered to, to keep this animal in good health. Sexual Differences: Mature males will grow odontodes along the sides of the head and rostrum (snout). The males tend to have longer extensions to the fins. Diet: Mostly vegetarian with cucumber, spinach, and algae wafers. Meaty foods such as frozen blood worms and live foods such as white worms and brine shrimp can be fed sporadically. Etymology: The specific name aureus: Remarks: Still listed on some online sources as S. aureum.

Common Name:

Giant Whiptail

Synonyms:

Loricaria aurea, Sturisoma aureum, Sturisomatichthys aureum

Family:

Loricariidae

Distribution:

Colombia: Magdalena, San Jorge and Cesar River basins. Type locality: Bodega central, Rio Magdalena, Colombia.

Size:

20.0cm. (8ins)

Temp:

24-28°c (75-83°f)

p.H.

6.0-7.5.

IUCN Red List

This species is listed as Data Deficient because there are no data on its population size and trend or the threats that are affecting it (needs updating IUCN 2016).

Reference:

Covain, R., S. Fisch-Muller, C. Oliveira, J.H. Mol, J.I. Montoya-Burgos and S. Dray, 2015. Molecular phylogeny of the highly diversified catfish subfamily Loricariinae (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) reveals incongruences with morphological classification. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 94:492-517.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2017. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 10/2017 ).
Grant, S. Whiptail Catfish on the Move. Practical Fishkeeping (UK) May 2016.
Usma, S., Mesa-Salazar, L., Sanchez-Duarte, P. & Lasso, C. 2016. Sturisomatichthys aureus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016.

Family: Loricariidae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Sturisomatichthys aureus

Sturisomatichthys aureus
Male with eggs 13th Sept. 2009

Sturisomatichthys aureus
3 day old fry

Sturisomatichthys aureus

Sturisomatichthys aureus
Dorsal view

Sturisomatichthys aureus

If you would like to contribute to the monthly factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail me. You will of course be credited for your work.

If you would like to donate any denomination of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few years yet.