Shovelnose Catfish

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Jun 18, 2003
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Anybody here have one, or ever have one? I just recently bought one about two weeks ago. He's still a little shy but a ver cool fish to have.
 
lima catfish answer

hi there you say that the lima you have had for two weeks and has been shy the most likely reason is there is too much light in the tank and a really cheap soloution would be too put some frre floating anacharis on top where the lights shine the brightest.
 
WARNING!
All but one species of Shovelnose cats will need a very very large tank or a pond when mature adults. These fish get huge and are known tankbusters, they have a bad habit of panicking and madly dashing/thrashing about if thier barbels don't have freeplay or get caught on something. The smallest is the Spotted Shovelnose coming in at a average 18" inches, the others range from two feet (2') to five feet (5').
Shovelnose cats, Redtailed cats and many other cats-n-Plecs along with Pacus (and others) should not be available for sale to just anyone. Not without proof of being able to house, feed and care for these fish as adults with the intention of keeping them for their lifespan.
 
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tnlguinn said:
BTW, the soribum lima is the smallest of the shovelnose cats maxing out at 18".
Actually the Lima which is often commonly called simply 'Shovelnose cat' gets to twentyfour inches (24"). The smallest at a average eighteen inches (18")is the Spotted Shovelnose.*


*But then again we may be consulting different profiles and we know how much various profiles can differ.
 
Our Tiger Shovelnose was about 39" and would eat anything he could fit in his mouth....even after feeding, he would actively hunt other fish...they are a true predator
After about 6 months of searching, we were finally able to find a home for him with a public aquarium.
Aside from the fact that these fish grow awfully big, you will be very limited on what else you can have in your tank....my advice would be to take the shovelnose back and opt for a different type of catfish...
 
I have a tiger and a lima. Tha lima is much more calm. My tiger just ate my new bala shark. I have been going through 8 dozen feeders a week, but I have an arawona and clown knife too.
 
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