TankBud

Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid

Sperata acicularis

Also known as Borneo shovel nose cat, Burmese giant river catfish

FreshwaterFish

Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid (Sperata acicularis)

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
70.9 in
180 cm
Minimum tank
1,057 gal
4,000 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Bagridae
Origin
Irrawaddy and Sittang basins, Myanmar

Overview

The Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid is sold as an elegant, silver, needle-nosed juvenile, but it grows into a giant that lives on the bottom. It is really a public-aquarium animal rather than a home fish, and only for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid is often sold as a Borneo shovelnose catfish. The species is found only in Myanmar and has never lived anywhere near Borneo, more than a thousand miles away.

Caring for the Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid

Plan on a system of at least 1,057 gal (4,000 L) before buying an Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid. Only a public-scale tank or a large pond can house an adult. Give it a deep footprint of open sand with a few large, immovable structures, and plenty of open floor to move over.

Keep the water warm at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C), soft to neutral, with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Strong filtration should keep it spotless and heavily oxygenated. Feed meaty foods such as whole fish, prawn and large sinking items.

This bagrid is an aggressive predator and will eat any tank mate it can swallow, so keep it entirely alone. The cute juvenile hides how large it becomes, and an adult can reach the length of a person. Think very hard before buying one, since it is a commitment of decades. Breeding has not been recorded in captivity.

Good to know

Sperata acicularis is a giant bagrid catfish in the family Bagridae, described by Ferraris and Runge in 1999. Its name, acicularis, means needle-like and refers to its long, sharply pointed snout. It is an apex river hunter armed with strong spines and long barbels, and a food and sport fish across its range.

In the wild

The Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid is native to Myanmar, in the Irrawaddy, Bago and Great Tenasserim river systems. It patrols the beds of large, deep, flowing rivers.

Common questions

What size tank does an Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid need?

An Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid needs at least 1,057 gal (4,000 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid need?

An Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does an Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid eat?

An Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid eats meaty foods such as whole fish, prawn and large sinking items. It is a predator and will also eat any tank mate it can swallow.

How big does an Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid get?

An adult Irrawaddy shovelnose bagrid reaches about 70.9 in (180 cm).

Related species