Zebra shovelnose
Brachyplatystoma tigrinum
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–90°F
- 22–32°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 23.6 in
- 60 cm
- Minimum tank
- 151 gal
- 570 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Pimelodidae
- Origin
- Brazil, Colombia, Peru
Overview
The zebra shovelnose is a large, striking predatory catfish for a very big tank with strong flow. It suits only experienced keepers.
Did you know
The zebra shovelnose wears one of the boldest patterns of any catfish, black and cream tiger stripes that trail into long tail filaments. It remains one of the most sought-after and expensive of the large Amazonian catfishes.
Caring for the zebra shovelnose
Give a zebra shovelnose a very large tank of at least 151 gal (570 L), with a tight lid. Provide a long, open swimming lane over a smooth sand bed, plus a few solid hiding places. Keep the lighting subdued and the tank calm, since this shy fish can be nervous and easily spooked.
It handles a wide temperature span, from 72 to 90°F (22 to 32°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Run powerful, turbulent flow and keep oxygen levels high.
The zebra shovelnose is an entirely fish-eating catfish and strongly prefers live fish at first. Getting one to accept dead food takes patience. Wean it over time onto strips of fish, prawn and earthworms.
Keep it as a single specimen. It is an aggressive fish and will take any tank mate it can swallow. Choose fast, sturdy companions well out of its size range. It is not known to have been bred in aquariums.
Good to know
The zebra shovelnose is a long-whiskered catfish of the family Pimelodidae. It was long known to science as Merodontotus tigrinum, when it sat in a genus of its own. Like its relatives, it is a migratory predator of open river channels. Wild fish have been recorded to roughly 85 cm.
In the wild
The zebra shovelnose lives in the main channels of the Amazon basin in Brazil, Colombia and Peru. It favors deep, fast-flowing water there, over sand and open bottom.
Common questions
What size tank does a zebra shovelnose need?
A zebra shovelnose needs at least 151 gal (570 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a zebra shovelnose need?
A zebra shovelnose is comfortable at 72–90°F (22–32°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a zebra shovelnose eat?
A zebra shovelnose is an entirely fish-eating catfish and strongly prefers live fish at first. With patience, you can wean it onto strips of fish, prawn and earthworms.
How big does a zebra shovelnose get?
An adult zebra shovelnose reaches about 23.6 in (60 cm).
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