All about the tiger shovelnose

[evilfish]

This thread is basically for anyone with knowledge, experience or photo's of the amazing tiger shovelnose.

it is an awesome fish, definately worthy of having its own thread, so anything that you want to share about this fishy monster, please do here.

 

[blacktip]

I've had my 3" TSN for about a week now and he's cool. He is no where near as bullyish as my little RTC is, but I like him for that. I can't wait for him to get a little bigger. I'll post pics of him later tonight after I clean his tank.

 

[Caveman]

I have only had a few small ones. Largest one being roughly 11" and I can tell you one thing I learned is that they will eat anything. My last one died from choking on river rocks. wned: But it did manage to eat over $100 worth of fish before the rock finally manage to get him.

 

[snogard]

love 'em... used to have two, my TSNxRTC ate the other one but here's mine almost at a foot. not a very competitive eater, but a very good hunter, even hunts pellets

 

[shoefreak03]

they grow HUGE!!!

hence the reason i dont one of these nice looking catfish.

 

[contender]

mine just kind of sits around, and then gulps down a few feeders when i'm not looking...?

 

[evilfish]

i own 2 at the moment, only 7", but they are amazing fish to watch eat.

Here's abit of info on them.




Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum
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Other names:...........none
Origin:......................Northern and Eastern South America
Max size:..................5 feet
PH:............-..............6.6-7.6
Temperature:...........75-82 F.
Min tank size:..........200 gallons
Food:.........................live foods, beef heart, may accept pellets

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The Tiger Shovelnose catfish is a very large and a powerful predator. Like other large catfish, it has many large barbels that it uses to locate food and find its way around in dark and muddy waters. If unable to move these barbels freely, a large specimen has been known to smash its way through the end of an aquarium. A tank of at least 180 gallons is recommended. This fish has a sleek, streamlined body that's silvery on the bottom and olive\dark brown on the top.

The Tiger Shovelnose lives in large rivers and the deeper sections of smaller rivers. In the aquarium, it is recommended to feed this monster twice a week on a diet of trout, sprats, prawns, and similar foods. They shouldn't be trusted with smaller fish, as they will eat anything that will fit into their huge mouthes.

Maintenance requirements in the aquarium are generally the same as for any other large pimelodid catfish - an excellent filtration system, highly oxygenated water, regular water changes and a temperature of about 75 F. This fish will accept a wide PH range and a general hardness range of 4-30 dH. Sexing and breeding information on this fish is unknown.

 

[contender]

any photos of yours?

 

[dialphantom]

are there fish really ok in a 200 gal if they get 5 feet

 

[mkpeters6]

great post -- it makes me miss my tsn that i left at home with my other fw monsters

they are definatley one of my favorite catfish, mine grew from 3in to about 13in in about two months -- his growth was helped by taking down two 5in blue gouramis and a 6in asian redtail cat (when he himself was about 8-9in) i have some great photos of his stomach after these meals and one with the redtail sticking out of his mouth but they are on my phone and i dont know how to transfer them --

mine is currently about 15in (at least when i left him) i cant wait to go home during thanksgiving to see how he and my other guys have grown -- my tsn is the only fish ive owned that will engulf multiple feeders, like 3 to 4 in one strike -- i cant wait till he is a fat two footer +