PlanetCatfish.com - Scobinancistrus aureatus (Loricariidae) Cat-eLog

Adult
Adult (Rio Xingu in background)
Video - juvenile
Adult
Close-up of head
68mm SL
Dorsal view of head
Ventral view
Close-up of teeth
Close-up of mouth
Male
Female
Three day old eggs
Four day old eggs
Five day old eggs
Six day old fry
Eight day old fry
Ten day old fry
Twelve day old fry
Forty five day old juveniles
Ninety day old juveniles
Five month old juvenile
Ten month old juveniles
Juveniles are territorial
Head of male
Head of female
Body of male showing odontodes
Female body showing absence of odontodes
Close-up of eye
Close-up of opercular odontodes
Three day old fry
Eggs approx. 6 hours after being laid
Eggs five days being laid, a day before hatching
Close-up of pectoral fin
Close-up of dorsal fin
Close-up of caudal fin

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Scobinancistrus aureatus** Burgess, 1994
Common Names	L014, Sunshine Pleco Goldie Pleco, Solskinssugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Ilha da Fazenda, Rio Xingú, Estado Pará, Brazil.
Synonym(s)	Panaque aureatus
Pronunciation	aw RE at us
Etymology	(Latin)Scobis=Sawdust + (Greek)agkistron=hook. aureatus = golden; alluding to the golden finnage.
Articles	- CotM 2001 May - Shane's World Reproduction Making Sunshine in Indonesia - Shane's World Species L014: The Sunshine Pleco from the Rio Xingu
Species Information
Size	250mm or 9.8" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Striking sub-adult colouration which diminishes in adults which are still quite distinctive. Commonly known as the Goldie or Sunshine pleco, this ultimately larger fish is a frequent import.
Sexing	Males grow larger than females. Males develop a more ''bristled'' appearance that, in certain light, can shine from the light being reflected off the fish. The leading edge of the leading pectoral fin ray also becomes slightly spiny in mature males. Head shape, when view from above is blockier in males and more triangular in females. Females are wider across the midriff.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Xingu River basin, Brazil. Amazon, Lower Amazon, Xingu (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Vulnerable , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2018.
pH	5.8 - 7.2
Temperature	25.0-29.0°C or 77-84.2°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Clean, clear, highly oxygenated, preferably with a noticeable current although this is not vital.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Sinking pellets and frozen bloodworm are ideal although all prepared foods that reach the bottom are accepted. Larger individuals will tackle whole king prawns and mussels with relish. Will eat garden snails and the first breeder of this genus feed their fishes meat and veg in the form of pumpkin. An omnivore that will eat most things and shares with the wood-eating plecos the unusual habit of eating the skin of vegetables before the flesh. User data.
Furniture	Sandy or small pea-shaped gravel with groups of rounded stones and few or no plants best reproduces this fishes natural habitat. If keeping with similarly sized plecos, arrange the aquarium to ensure there are plenty of hiding places and multiple feeding areas to diffuse feeding time ''focus''.
Compatibility	A robust pleco suited for most environments, the only catch being the heat.
Suggested Tankmates	Suitable as a discus or angelfish tank pleco. Also OK with South American cichlids - a good way to brighten up any oscar tank - but might not do well with Central American cichlids due to their slightly lower temperature requirements. Perfect with rainbowfish if you don't mind breaking the biotope mould.
Breeding	Has been bred in captivity.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Tropical Fish Hobbyist v. 43 (no. 1), pp 237, Figs. 1-6 (unnumbered).
Registered Keepers	There are 261 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 25 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 73 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.73.161
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:09 (species record created: 2001 Apr 29 00:00)