TankBud

Sturgeon catfish

Lamontichthys filamentosus

Also known as Kite Pleco, Filament Whiptail Cat

FreshwaterFish

Sturgeon catfish (Lamontichthys filamentosus)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–86°F
22–30°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
6.3 in
16 cm
Minimum tank
63 gal
240 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador

Overview

The sturgeon catfish, also called the kite pleco, is a peaceful, delicate loricariid for a tank with strong flow. It is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The sturgeon catfish trails long, whip-like filaments from its fins and tail. Its slender, flattened shape and rows of body plates give it the look of a miniature sturgeon. The two fish are not related.

Caring for the sturgeon catfish

Give a sturgeon catfish a tank of at least 63 gal (240 L), and larger if you can. Provide driftwood and smooth rock as grazing surfaces.

It is a delicate, demanding fish that lives or dies by water quality, so keep the water pristine and rich in oxygen. Despite its fragile look, it must have brisk flow. Run powerful filtration and keep the surface water moving.

Hold the water at 72 to 86°F (22 to 30°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Warmer water carries less oxygen, so keep the tank well aerated. Feed algae wafers, vegetables and sinking foods.

The sturgeon catfish is peaceful and reasonably sociable, so keep it alone or in a small group of its own kind. Choose only calm, similarly gentle tank mates. There is no record of it breeding in home aquariums.

Good to know

The sturgeon catfish belongs to Loricariidae, the suckermouth armored catfishes, and has a kite-shaped body. Its underside bears an armor of bony plates. Its sucker mouth grips surfaces in the current and rasps off algae and tiny organisms.

In the wild

The sturgeon catfish comes from fast, oxygen-rich reaches of the western Amazon in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. It clings to solid surfaces there in strong current.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The sturgeon catfish is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a sturgeon catfish need?

A sturgeon catfish needs at least 63 gal (240 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a sturgeon catfish need?

A sturgeon catfish is comfortable at 72–86°F (22–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a sturgeon catfish eat?

A sturgeon catfish eats algae wafers, vegetables and sinking foods. It also grazes the driftwood and smooth rock in its tank.

How big does a sturgeon catfish get?

An adult sturgeon catfish reaches about 6.3 in (16 cm).

Related species