Cat-eLog Right Arrow Loricariidae Right Arrow Loricariinae Right Arrow Sturisomatichthys

Jump to next section Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific NameSturisomatichthys aureus  (Steindachner, 1900)
Common Name(s)Giant Whiptail
Gylden Størmalle (Denmark), Helikoptermal (Sweden), Stoerwels (Germany)
Type LocalityBodega Central, Rio Magdalena
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.
Jump to next section Species Information
Size 150mm or 5.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
IdentificationYoung Sturisoma of any species are difficult to distinguish.  S. aureum can be distinguished from most congeners by the black horizontal markings behind the first dorsal ray, that are solid vice speckled.  It also appears to be the smallest member of the genus rarely reaching over six inches in length. S. aureum, when in good condition, has a long trailing fin extension from the upper caudal lobe.
SexingMales sport conspicuous odontodes along the sides of the head and rostrum.
General RemarksThis is probably the most common Sturisoma shipped from Colombia.  Sturisomatichthys leightoni are often mixed in the shipments.  These shipments are also sometimes combined with shipments of another Sturisoma species that are collected further downriver.
Jump to next section Habitat Information
DistributionColombia.  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 Sturisoma species.
Magdalena, San Jorge and Cesar River basins, Colombia.
Colombia Caribbean Rivers, Magdalena (click on these areas to find other species found there)
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pH6.6 - 7.6
Temperature20.0-26.0°C or 68-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Other ParametersSoft 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.
Jump to next section Husbandry Information
FeedingTypical 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.
FurnitureDoes well in a planted aquaria with driftwood.
CompatibilityPeaceful community fish.  Do not place with more robust loricariids as it is not a strong competitor for food.
BreedingSee Shane's World article.
Jump to next section Further Information
ReferencesEvers and Seidel (2002) describe this fish in earlier editions of their Wels Atlas as Sturisoma sp. "Kolumbien".
Registered Keepers(1) daniel60, (2) fmagnier, (3) Yan, (4) Bristle nose, (5) Jojoyojimbi, (6) AmLi (p: 2, k: 2), (7) alga (k: 12), (8) Bas Pels (k: 3), (9) kerryteatsjr (k: 2), (10) Bahney, (11) chillired, (12) Barbie, (13) weisel, (14) MatsP (p: 5, k: 49), who also notes: "Sadly the lone fish died for unknown reasons. Possibly a clogged filter was part of the reason. ", "Fry from two spawnings early this year. Most of these are now sold. ", "New batch of fry. Now sold", "Remaining fry after selling 23 of them.", (15) aledk85, (16) jac (k: 104), who also notes: "Successful breeding pair.", (17) evesonevo (k: 4), (18) novice, (19) Rixxter, (20) fischkringli, (21) coo-ee, (22) ofird, (23) Martin S (p: 2, k: 4), who also notes: "Fry from MatsP", "This fish originally came from MatsP as fry from a spawning of his adults. I passed one onto a fellow aquarist in August 2009, who now has no room for it as it's only in a 30" tank, so it's come back.", (24) ozarowana (k: 6), (25) docszoo, (26) ronalddevries, (27) ouscazz (k: 4), (28) drd, (29) m.nl, (30) Wallace (k: 2), (31) summer (k: 5), who also notes: "added a 2nd female and the original snub nosed female grew bristles! the new female and new male had eggs together within days. now we have 2 week-old fry in a breeding trap. they only spawned 10 eggs and only 3 lasted until hatching day.", (32) coelacanth, (33) cory777, (34) knockout (k: 16), (35) uffe, (36) Luis.Ventura, (37) reefdive (p: 2), (38) jimlaroche83 (k: 2), (39) PlecoCrazy (k: 6), (40) catfishhunter, (41) Roland, (42) Armand (k: 4), (43) Dan*, (44) adcc (k: 2), (45) Blackguard, (46) markmoten (k: 2), (47) PavelTrupl, (48) HenkeP (k: 10), (49) Olias, (50) seliel (k: 64), (51) jvharskamp, (52) Joost (k: 4), (53) Andrewjw (k: 2), (54) Id16, (55) Cory Ben (p: 2), (56) vsmith64 (p: 2, k: 5), (57) Tamcon83 (k: 6), (58) Igor Hotasi Simamora (k: 15), (59) Jumpmaster (k: 3), (60) francistrus, (61) izzy84, (62) Gio2013, (63) DBam, (64) Mario, (65) Yo-han, (66) rens-ie, (67) Junglejason, (68) Departure (k: 6), (69) Lars, (70) Sabaji, (71) Evy, (72) zopie, (73) kumarkolekar (k: 18), (74) mad357, (75) jmw975 (k: 2), (76) Maxpedley.

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Breeding Reports(1) Andrewjw (b: 56), (2) seliel (b: 42), (3) Armand (b: 39), (4) Tamcon83 (b: 11), (5) jac (b: 10), (6) jmw975 (b: 8).
Articles
Article - Shane's World Reproduction Spawning, Embryo & Fry Development in Sturisoma aureum
Article - Shane's World Reproduction Raising Sturisoma
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Last Update2017 Jan 06 03:29 (species record created: 2001 Apr 29 00:00)