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The work carried out by Covain et.al. 2016 confines the Sturisoma genera to west of the Andes (cis-Andean), and the Sturisomatichthys genera restricted to the east of the Andes (trans-Andean). Reproduction: Not yet known but is sure to be similar to Sturisomatichthys aureus where eggs are usually placed on the glass sides of the tank where the male guards the eggs and cleans them for up to 8 days, and when released from their egg cases will be ignored by the parents. A good first food is greens and brine shrimp. Aquarium Care: In common with the Sturisoma genus it is very peaceful so you should not mix it with any fin nipping species as the long filaments to the caudal fin can be a magnet for this behavior. Provide large flat stones or roots for this species as it likes to "sprawl" out full length so needs this priority to fulfill this entitlement. A good water current and filtration is called for giving a high oxygen content in a tank that is at least 3' 0" long as this species can get quite large and needs plenty of room in an under stocked tank. Will be seen during the daylight hours. Due to the southern catchment area they would need to be kept at not too high a temperature. Sexual Differences: Males can be differentiated from the females as having cheek and head bristles, with the females being that bit heavier looking. Diet: Algae, peas (without skins), cucumber and algae tablets. Remarks: On the latest paper by Cardoso, Y. et al (2023) this species is now considered a senior synonym of Sturisoma robustum. Abstract: Researchers ask, how many species of Sturisoma catfishes inhabit the La Plata Basin? Uptil now, there are two recognised species, S. barbatum and S. robustum, however this study indicates these two species are part of an intraspecific variation within a single species, with S. barbatum (the valid species) as the senior synonym of S. robustum (Cardoso, Y. et al 2023), Therefore S. barbatum and S. robustum are the same species.

Long-Nosed Whiptail

Loricaria barbata, Oxyloricaria barbata, Sturisoma robustum

Loricariidae

South America: Brazil, Paraguay River basin. Type locality: Rio Cuiabá, Cujaba-Fluss, Brazil.

25.0cm. (10¼ins)

22-24°c (71-75°f)

6.5-7.2.

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl 1985 Aquarien atlas. Band 2. Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde GmbH, Melle, Germany. 1216 p.
Cardoso, Y, S Bogan, F Agnolin, FDF Petean, 2023. How many species of Sturisoma (Siluriformes: Loricariinae) inhabit the La Plata Basin? Zootaxa 5360: 515–530.
Covain, R., S. Fisch-Muller, C. Oliveira, J.H. Mol, J.I. Montoya-Burgos and S. Dray, 2015. Molecular phylogeny of the highly diversified catfish subfamily Loricariinae (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) reveals incongruences with morphological classification. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 94:492-517.
ScotCat Factsheet no. 23. May 1998.