PlanetCatfish.com - Panaque suttonorum (Loricariidae) Cat-eLog

Maracaibo basin
Maracaibo basin; Frontal view
Maracaibo basin; Close-up of odontodes
Maracaibo basin; Close-up of mouth

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Panaque suttonorum** Schultz, 1944
Common Names	Venezuelan Blue Eye Panaque Blåøjet Sugemalle (Denmark), Lucia (Colombian)
Type Locality	Río Negro below Río Yasa mouth, Santa Ana River drainage, Maracaibo basin, Zulia State, Venezuela.
Synonym(s)	Panaque suttoni
Pronunciation	pan ah KAY. - sut ton uhr um
Etymology	The generic epithet "panaque" is a Venezuelan common name for this fish. In honour of Dr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Sutton.
Species Information
Size	280mm or 11" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The genus Panaque is identified by the teeth, which are spoon-shaped. This means that the teeth are noticeably wider at the tip than at the base. Other loricariidae have teeth that are similar width all the way from one end to the other. A second distinguishing feature is the lack of a buccal papilla, which is a "flap of skin" on the inside of the mouth. See pictures in this PDF on Pterygoplichthys. The Venezuelan blue eye panaque and the Colombian blue eye Panaque Panaque cochliodon have been confused in the aquarium hobby for years. Because the Venezuelan species is restricted to western and eastern tributaries of Maracaibo Lake, Venezuela it is never imported without this locality information being clear and imports are from Colombia.
Sexing	Unknown
General Remarks	You will also see this the name P. suttoni used in most hobbyist literature, this has also proved incorrect. According to the rules of the International Code of Zoological nonclamenture, a species named after a man AND woman should end in ''orum''. This fact was only more recently uncovered by Dr. Issac Isbrücker in 2005. The Colombian blue eye panaque and the Venezuelan blue eye panaque are similar in gross morphology and colour. Both have lunate caudal fins, a uniformly gray to black body, and blue eyes. Lujan, Hidalgo, and Stewart (2010) theorize that the two are sister species.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: western and eastern tributaries of Maracaibo Lake, Venezuela. Lake Maracaibo (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 2007.
pH	6.2 - 7.5
Temperature	20.0-24.0°C or 68-75.2°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	dh 4-15.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	All Panaque appear to feed on wood, so wood should be present in the tank. They also take prepared algae wafers and fresh vegetables (zucchini, cucumber, peas, green beans) and tubers (potato, yams and similar). User data.
Furniture	Natural habitat is among fallen trees and wood-tangles.
Compatibility	Generally peaceful, but may defend their territory against conspecifics.
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the United States National Museum v. 94 (no. 3172), pp 308, Pl. 10 (fig. B).
Registered Keepers	There are 9 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is but a single wish to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 5 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.27.887
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:36 (species record created: 2002 Jun 13 00:00)