Firewood catfish

Sorubimichthys planiceps

Also known as Firewood shovelnose catfish, Planiceps catfish, Flatnose shovelnose

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 59.1 in (150 cm)
Minimum tank: 793 gal (3,000 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins of South America.
Family: Pimelodidae

Overview

This is a true monster shovelnose that reaches a meter and a half, so it needs an enormous tank of at least 3000 liters, effectively a pond or a huge custom build, and lives for many years. It is not especially aggressive but it is a committed fish-eater, so any tankmate small enough to swallow will be eaten, and it can only be housed with very large companions. It is a strong, active swimmer that needs open space and a secure lid. Feed whole fish, prawns, and large sinking foods.

In the wild

The firewood catfish is a giant shovelnose of the Amazon and Orinoco, cruising open river channels and hunting fish at night. It has a long, flattened, spade-shaped head and a slim body patterned in a woodgrain of stripes and blotches. It needs a very large tank with long open swimming lanes, a soft floor, and clean, warm, soft to neutral water at 22 to 28 degrees C.

Good to know

Sorubimichthys planiceps grows to about 150 cm and is the only species in its genus, named for a body pattern that resembles a split log or firewood. It is a nocturnal open-water piscivore that runs down other fish. Its flattened head and long body are typical of the shovelnose catfish group.

Did you know

The firewood name comes from its markings, which look just like the grain and knots of a split log, camouflage that breaks up its outline in the dappled light of a big river.