YELLOW TAIL SHOLVERNOSE CATFISH

The tiger shovelnose catfish is a very interesting freshwater fish that has captured the attention of aquarists for many years. Their unique look has actually made them one of our favorite large fishes you can keep!

However, there are some things you need to know if you want one of your own:

Due to their size and temperament, it’s recommended that beginners avoid these fish until they’re a bit more experienced. Good tiger shovelnose catfish care requires you to be familiar with their needs a bit more than the average fish.

Species Summary

The tiger shovelnose catfish (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) originates from the waters of South America. You can typically find them in the deepest areas of large rivers where they have the room to move freely and find food to each (primarily other fish).

These fish tend to like locations that are a bit shadier. There will often be a significant amount of vegetation present in these waters, and it’s common to find them in flooded forests for this reason as well.

The tiger shovelnose uses its barbels to navigate in the dark and murky waters they occupy. This helps them understand not only where they’re going, but where their prey happens to be.

Lifespan

The lifespan of a shovelnose catfish can range anywhere from 18-25 years. This range can be significantly impacted by genetic factors and the quality of care they receive in captivity.

It’s uncommon for these fish to hit the upper limits of that lifespan in captivity. This isn’t unusual for large freshwater fish, but you should be aware of it before getting one.

Size

The average tiger shovelnose catfish size is around 2.5 to 3 feet in captivity. These fish can grow even larger in the wild but rarely exceed 4 feet in their natural habitat.

Care

There are some elements of tiger shovelnose catfish care that are straightforward and others that require some knowledge and preparation. This section will lay out the essential things to know if you want to help these fish thrive and live a long, happy life.

Tank Size

Since tiger shovelnose catfish are rather large, it’s important to make sure they have a tank that’s large enough for them to be comfortable.

The ideal tank size for these fish is 180-200 gallons for juveniles and 250+ for adults. If you’re unable to provide these with a tank this size then these aren’t the fish for you.

A large part of tiger shovelnose catfish care is making sure that these fish are comfortable and don’t feel cramped. This will cause them to live in a state of stress which can shorten their lifespan (and isn’t fair to them on a moral level).

Water Parameters

Tiger shovelnose catfish are a hardy species of freshwater fish that can tolerate a flexible range of water parameters. This gives you a little room for error, but you should still try and keep things as consistent as possible.

• Water temperature: 75°F to 82°F
• pH levels: 6-8
• Water hardness: 6-20 KH

Always make sure to perform consistent water level checks with a reliable testing kit to make sure everything looks good. This will help you catch any unwanted shifts before they become a problem and impact the health of your fish.

What To Put In Their Tank

Tiger shovelnose catfish are fairly low maintenance, but it’s important to set up their tank in a way that keeps them happy and enriched. These fish can be prone to stress or aggression if kept in a bland or bare tank.

Try to include items in their tank that mimic their natural environment as much as possible. For the most part, this means a mix of vegetation, driftwood, and rocks.

You can experiment with a variety of plants when setting up their tank.  Hornwort and water wisteria are two of our favorites because of the flexibility they offer.

Food & Diet

In the wild, these fish mostly eat smaller fish and crustaceans. They have been known to nibble on plants here and there, but spend most of their time looking for meaty protein-rich foods.

This means it’s important for you to have a significant amount of food in stock at all times. Since these are large fish, they’ll obviously eat a lot more than your traditional smaller freshwater species.

Aim for a mix of frozen foods, worms, and pellets to give them a balanced diet. For a treat, you can drop in pieces of fish for them as well. We like doing that from time to time because it’s a nice snack and a good source of enrichment.

Tank Mates

The most important thing to remember when it comes to choosing the right tank mates for these fish is size and temperament. Tiger shovelnose catfish are quite large, which means they can easily injure other smaller fish (or even eat them).

This means other freshwater fish that are large enough to defend themselves or not be considered a target are a must. Obviously, this will impact the size of the tank you need as well because two large fish need room to stretch out.

You’ll also want to try and find tank mates that aren’t overly aggressive. Any fish that are extremely territorial or feisty won’t make for a good fit. While your shovelnose will likely be able to defend itself, you never want a tank where there’s frequent fighting.

Some examples of fish that make suitable tank mates are arowana, other large catfish like redtail catfish , giant gourami, pacu, and even oscar fish.