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Anyone have any info on these?

We used to have a pair of 10" ones at the LFS where I worked, we fed them feeder goldfish...they tapped around the tank with their "whiskers" until they touched a feeder, then they would lunge for it, often biting it in half.

They also ate some baby Oscars (3" by accident, when the oscars jumped over a barrier into the shovelnose tank.

Thanks in advance!

I'm going to assume you're referring to the Lima Shovelnose, Sorubim lima. There are a number of other shovelnose species, including Pseudoplatysoma sp. (Tiger Shovelnose) such as P. tigrinum, P. fasciatum, and P. coruscans, Merodontotus tigrinus (Zebra Shovelnose), as well as other Pims that have shovelnose-like heads.

Anyway, Lima Shovelnoses don't get much bigger than 10" in most cases. However, they do have the capability to grow to nearly two feet long, which is surely a sight to behold. There's not really much to say except to keep away from fish they can eat!:%)

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Thanks! Know where I can get some pictures?

It should be easy to find images online by doing a search.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Would you be able to keep 3 Shovelnose, a African Knife or Elephantnose and a Black Lancer Catfish together in a 55g?

I am just wondering, not actuallly going to do it (yet lol)

That would be insane in a 55 gallon. It may be possible in a 75 gallon, though a 120 gallon would be my minimum (the 2' width is what I'm going for, since the limas are the biggest fish in that list).

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

It just on Planet catfish it says 3 Shovelnoses in a 55g is a minimum for them.

Assuming they are not yet 12". Most usually only get about 12", but I would upgrade to an 18" wide tank if they reached that length since it's not impossible for Limas to grow larger, and a larger tank if they kept growing.

[span class="edited"][Edited by 2004-07-26 03:51][/span]

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

ok, thanks for that

Yes, Limas reach 2 feet if given the space. But if you HAVE the space, putting three together and watching them behave like U-boats on patrol is an awesome sight

Whatever you do though, DON'T pick up any of the 'Shovelnoses' of the Genus Brachplatystoma. One of these reaches - wait for it - NINE FEET.

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002