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way from the ongoing onslought of L-numbers we concentrate this month on a species and genera that is not found very often in the catfish hobby. Lamontichthys llanero is currently shipped out of Colombia on a regular basis, but never under it's correct name. Usually it is traded as a Sturisoma species.

Lamontichthys llanero

There are now 6 species (2010) in this genus with L. avacanoeiro and L. parakana being added in the 2009 paper by de Carvalho Paixão & Toledo-Piza. The other four are L. filamentosus (La Monte, 1035), L. llanero Taphorn & Lilyestrom, 1984, L. maracaibero Taphorn & Lilyestrom, 1984 and L. stibaros Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1978. They can be identified by their round head, deep body, flattened caudal peduncle and the seven divided soft pectoral fin rays which is inclusive to this genera.

Lamontichthys llanero - ventral view

This genus are not the easiest to keep in captivity as they will need to be fed on the right vegetarian food such as algae paste on flat stones which can be a bit of a hit and miss so would need to be tried on other veg foods and also frozen foods and other aquarium prepared foods. Water quality is also very important as any lapse such as deficient oxygen content will prove detrimental to this species. Will spend most of their time attached to the aquarium glass sides and will be difficult to feed as they will only move to the substrate for a few moments. If kept with other Loricaria species such as Sturisoma they will have to compete for food and they will eventually lose out. A Loricariid for the experienced catfish keeper.

Younger specimens are quite active , who constantly move around in their aquarium on the search for food. Older, bigger specimens appear much more elusive and shy. The rumour of them being difficult to maintain may be caused by their poor condition once they arrive in the trade and then onto the aquarist who may struggle with them in this perilous situation.

Lamontichthys llanero has been collected near the margins of rivers varying from less than 10 m until 1 km of width, in areas with muddy waters, and sand or mud in the bottom.

None

None

Lorarcariinae

Venezuela: Guanare Viejo River basin, Orinoco River drainage. Type locality: Venezuela, Estado Portuguesa, Río Guanare Viejo cerca de Hoyada.

20.0cm. (8ins)

26-28°c (79-85°f.)

6.0-7.5.

Round head, deep body, flattened caudal peduncle and the seven divided soft pectoral fin rays which is inclusive to this genera. Caudel filaments very long and a high dorsal.

Eight to nine brown bands on a cream body colouration. All fins with brown bands. Dorsal with black leading band going right to the tip. Caudal filaments with brown edgings one quarter the length from the caudal peduncle.

Would need a good sized tank for a group with a sandy bottom or with no substrate and good water movement. With no substrate they will tend to move to the ground and can be fed easier. Provide driftwood and rocks to mimic there natural habitats. Possible tankmates could include peaceful characins and other mid to surface non aggresive species that can tolerate water movement but probably would do better kept on their own so feeding could be easier.

The breeding of this genera has been achieved but the raising of the fry has been problematic. Eggs were scattered on the aquarium floor and the fry did not survive in two spawns due to difficulty in feeding them. The next few spawns were a bit more successful due to sterile conditions and the feeding of flake food. (M. Hemmann 2003).

Males tend to have odontodes (hair like structures) on the first ray of the pectoral fins and the head in males is broader.

Vegetable and meat based foods. This genus are not the easiest to keep in captivity as they will need to be fed on the right vegetarian food such as algae paste on flat stones which can be a bit of a hit and miss so would need to be tried on other veg foods and also frozen foods and other aquarium prepared foods.

Caudal fin: The tail.
Caudal peduncle: The narrow part of a fish's body to which the caudal or tail fin is attached.
Dorsal fin: The primary rayed fin(s) on top of the body.
Odontodes: Hair - like stuctures on the body.
Pectoral fins: The paired fins just behind the head.

llanero: From the Llanos of Venezuela.

de Carvalho Paixão, A. and M. Toledo-Piza, 2009. Systematics of Lamontichthys Miranda-Ribeiro (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), with the description of two new species. Neotrop. Ichthyol. 7(4):519-568.
Encyclopædia Britannica
Evers, H.-G. & I.Seidel: Mergus, Baensch Catfish Atlas Volume 1, 1st English edn., 2005. Pp.944.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
www.loricariidae.info

Photo Credits

First & Second Images: © Haakon Haagensen @  
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