....Spotted Shovelnose catfish
Other names:...........none Origin:......................rivers of northern South America Max size:..................20" PH:............-..............6.6-7.2 Temperature:...........72-80 F. Min tank size:..........65 gallons Food:.........................Live foods, meaty foods |
The Spotted Shovelnose is a bottom dwelling catfish that spends most of its time resting on the substrate. The body is beige, with large, marbled blotches of darker shades of brown. The fish is flat, especially its head, and its eyes rest on top of its head as opposed to on the sides.
This catfish needs a light colored, sandy substrate. Subdue light levels by adding floating plants, and no sharp rocks should be in the aquarium. Healthy specimens display a coppery sheen. In captivity, they will grow quickly to around a foot in length, but often don't grown much larger than this in aquariums. Most fish that are too big to fit in the Spotted Shovelnose's mouth make good tankmates.
Spotted Shovelnose catfish are carnivorous and should be fed accordingly. Meety foods such as worms and beef heart are relished. They will sometimes learn to take pelleted or flake food from the surface. Breeding and sexing information has not been reported.
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