PlanetCatfish.com - Sturisomatichthys aureus (Loricariidae) Cat-eLog

Close-up of underside of head showing same.
Female
Ventral view illustrating scutes
One day old eggs
Two day old eggs
Three day old eggs
Four day old eggs
Five day old eggs
Six day old eggs
Seven day old eggs
One day old fry - lateral view
One day old fry - ventral view
Three day old fry
Male - ventral view
Female - ventral view
Close-up of female genital area
Close-up of male genital area
Male fanning eggs - lateral view
Close-up of dorsal view
Habitat: Rio Magdalena at Ricaurte
Fry, approx 1 month old
Ventral view

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Sturisomatichthys aureus** (Steindachner, 1900)
Common Names	Giant Whiptail Gylden Størmalle (Denmark), Helikoptermal (Sweden), Stoerwels (Germany)
Type Locality	Sororia Creek at Jagua de Ibiricó, lower Magdalena basin, Cesar Department, Colombia.
Synonym(s)	Loricaria aurea, Sturisoma aureum
Etymology	(German)Sturio=Sturgeon + (Greek) soma=body + (Greek) -ichthys=fish. This specific epithet refers to its golden (aureum=golden) colour.
Articles	- Shane's World Reproduction Spawning, Embryo & Fry Development in Sturisoma aureum - Shane's World Reproduction Raising Sturisoma
Species Information
Size	150mm or 5.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Sturisoma and Sturisomatichthys can be difficult to tell apart. Older descriptions of the genera emphasized the length of the snout (elongated in Sturisoma), but this trait is not reliable across species. Recent analyses allow discrimination based on the abdominal plates, fin colors and lateral plates: Sturisoma has its central abdominal plates arranged in three clearly-defined longitudinal series; all fins (except sometimes pectoral fins) lack dark spots; and 20–21 lateral plates in median series. Sturisomatichthys has its central abdominal plates less organized, not arranged in clearly-defined longitudinal series; dark spots usually present on one or more of the dorsal-, pectoral-, pelvic, or anal-fins; and 15–18 lateral plates in median series. Furthermore, to date all Sturisoma are cis-Andean; most (but not all) Sturisomatichthys are trans-Andean. Young Sturisomatichthys of any species are difficult to distinguish. S. aureus can be distinguished from most congeners by the black horizontal markings behind the first dorsal ray, which are solid as opposed to speckled. It also appears to be the smallest member of the genus rarely reaching over six inches in length. S. aureus, when in good condition, has a long trailing fin extension from the upper caudal lobe but not other fins.
Sexing	Males sport conspicuous odontodes along the sides of the head and rostrum.
General Remarks	Often, but always incorrectly, sold as S. panamensis which is not commercially exported nor captive-bred. Evers and Seidel (2002) describe this fish in earlier editions of their Wels Atlas as Sturisoma sp. "Kolumbien". This is the most common species shipped from Colombia. Sturisomatichthys leightoni are often mixed in the shipments. These shipments are also sometimes combined with shipments of a similar species that are collected further downriver this has led to hybridisation in captive populations.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Magdalena, San Jorge and Cesar River basins, Colombia. Found in the Rio Magdalena and its tributaries, upstream of Honda. It appears to be the species common in the upper Magdalena and is replaced downriver by another, similar species. Colombia Caribbean Rivers, Magdalena (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Data Deficient , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2014.
pH	6.6 - 7.6
Temperature	20.0-26.0°C or 68-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Soft to medium water hardness. It should also be noted that this fish prefers slightly cooler water and may not thrive in a warmer (over 78°F/26°C) aquarium.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Typical of the genus. The diet should be mainly spinach, cucumber, and algae wafers with meaty food like blood worms or brine shrimp fed once per week. User data.
Furniture	Does well in a planted aquaria with driftwood.
Compatibility	Peaceful community fish. Do not place with more robust loricariids as it is not a strong competitor for food.
Breeding	See Shane's World article.
Breeding Reports	There are 11 breeding reports, read them all here.
Further Information
Reference	Anzeiger der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe v. 37 (no. 18), pp 206.
Registered Keepers	There are 165 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 8 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 52 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.48.1167
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:10 (species record created: 2001 Apr 29 00:00)