cascudo-colher
Dasyloricaria filamentosa
Armored catfish from the Magdalena River basin in Colombia, reaching 32.2 cm and weighing up to 170 g. It has commercial fishing and is used in the aquarium trade.
Also called: cascudo-colher, cuchara, paleta, zapatero
- maximum
- 32 cm
- record/max.
- 0.2 kg
who is the cascudo-colher
The cascudo cuchara is a freshwater armored catfish of the family Loricariidae, reaching 32.2 cm and weighing up to 170 g. It occurs in the Magdalena River basin in Colombia, and possibly in the Catatumbo River basin. It lives in tropical rivers and feeds on algae. It has commercial fishing and is used in the aquarium trade. For rod-and-reel anglers it is a river species with no sport appeal. In Colombia and Venezuela it has many local names, such as cuchara, paleta, zapatero and tabla.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the cascudo-colher; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Armored catfish with a flattened body and bony plates along the sides, of medium size, reaching 32.2 cm. It can be confused with the cascudo palito (Sturisomatichthys aureus), which lives in the same Magdalena basin, but that one is smaller, up to 20 cm. It lives in tropical rivers of Colombia, and the Magdalena basin is the best clue for recognizing the species in the field. Like other armored catfish, it has spines and plates that call for care when handling.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Magdalena River basin in Colombia, and possibly the Catatumbo River basin, in tropical freshwater.
Habitat: Tropical rivers of the Magdalena basin in Colombia.
rules for the cascudo-colher
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
No known danger to anglers. The spines and plates can cut, so hold it with a cloth.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.0038, b = 3.06; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Dasyloricaria filamentosa (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Dasyloricaria filamentosaNames by country and language.
