TankBud

Duckbill catfish

Sorubim lima

Also known as Lima shovelnose catfish

FreshwaterFish

Duckbill catfish (Sorubim lima)
Elizabeth Barrett / animal.photos · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–86°F
23–30°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
19.7 in
50 cm
Minimum tank
190 gal
720 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Pimelodidae
Origin
South America

Overview

The duckbill catfish is a nocturnal ambush predator with a long, flattened, duck-like snout for snapping up passing fish. It is a fish for experienced keepers with a very large tank.

Did you know

The duckbill catfish often hangs at a steep, head-down angle against a branch during the day. Its mottled coloring and flat snout make it look like just another waterlogged stick. The disguise holds until a smaller fish drifts within reach.

Caring for the duckbill catfish

Give the duckbill catfish a large tank of at least 190 gal (720 L) with a soft sand bed and sturdy cover. Furnish it with driftwood, tall or overhanging plants and shaded resting spots. Keep the lighting dim to suit its evening habits.

It likes warm, soft water, at 73 to 86°F (23 to 30°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 and gentle flow. Offer strips of fish, prawn, earthworms and sinking pellets.

It is peaceful toward tank mates too big to eat. It becomes steadily more fish-eating as it grows, and it will swallow anything that fits in its wide mouth. Keep only large, calm companions with it.

It can be kept singly or in a group of its own kind, given space. It is not known to have been bred in home aquariums, though it spawns in the wild during the rains.

Good to know

The duckbill catfish, also sold as the lima shovelnose, is a long-whiskered catfish of the family Pimelodidae. Its most striking feature is the broad, flat, extended snout tipped with a projecting upper jaw. That gives it a duck-billed profile suited to sifting and grabbing prey. A marbled brown and cream pattern camouflages it against wood and leaf litter.

In the wild

The duckbill catfish is widespread across South America, in the Amazon, Orinoco and Parana basins. Young fish shelter among submerged roots and marginal plants, while adults patrol slow, deeper water.

Common questions

What size tank does a duckbill catfish need?

A duckbill catfish needs at least 190 gal (720 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a duckbill catfish need?

A duckbill catfish is comfortable at 73–86°F (23–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a duckbill catfish eat?

A duckbill catfish eats strips of fish, prawn, earthworms and sinking pellets. It grows steadily more fish-eating with age and will swallow anything that fits in its wide mouth.

How big does a duckbill catfish get?

An adult duckbill catfish reaches about 19.7 in (50 cm).

How does a duckbill catfish breed?

A duckbill catfish spawns in the wild during the rains. It is not known to have been bred in home aquariums.

Related species