Please help

[doomfin]

I have the following fish which my friend gave me. I don't know what it is and what can i feed it. I Notice it normally active during night times. Please help:wondering:

[Marco]

Looks like a 'Shovelnose Catfish' (dont know the Sc. name) They will eat everything and anything that fits inside its mouth. . . Mainly carnivorous so ox heart, earthworms, feeder fish. I havent come across catfish that are picky eaters in my time. Neons, guppy's, hell anything he can fit in his mouth is bound to disappear.Anyone else with different experience?

[Shakes]

Hope you got a decent sized aquarium as that cat is going to get big. Beatiful tiger though.

[doomfin]

thank you

[Big G]

Yer These Shovel Noses do get very big! So a large tank is a must, otherwise you need to pass it on to someone with an extra large tank!

Cheers
G!

[doomfin]

I have them in an 10 ft tank

although, my friend told me that the fish is over an year old

[Nirv]

Hey Doomfin,

That is indeed a Tiger Shovelnose Catfish, what length is this one so far? If it is over a year old, it could potentially be stunted, sadly. They are beautiful fish and can grow to 1.2 metres.

It is most likely a Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum, though there are a number of species in the group and they can be difficult to identify when young.

My tiger Shovelnose is very active during the day, and is getting tame to the point that I can stroke it. So with some patience it could become a great pet.

[doomfin]

Hi Nirv, My friend had it in a 3ft tank when i took it from him, so i put it with my hi-fins and asian sun in a 10 ft tank, I would say it is about 15cm long at the moment. If i put my hand in there and touch it, it don't move.

Mine at night is crazy along with the asian sun.

[Nirv]

Sounds like it should do fine, in a tank that size :) When they all get to a decent size that tank will look great.

[doomfin]

thanks Nirv

[Vis]

Just wanted to say ask nirv, he was already here :)
Really like those but will never fit in my tank.

[Gert Combrink]

I have them in an 10 ft tank

although, my friend told me that the fish is over an year old

Either your substrate is very big, or your one year + Shovel nose is stunted!

[Gareth]

not to sure but I did read some were that these fish are "slow" growing so at a year 15cm should be about right. I can be wrong so Nirv can maybe help me right here.

It is a very good looking fish and I wish I could get one but my tanks are to small for it...

[doomfin]

thanks guys

[Nirv]

My Shovelnose grew from 5cm to 20cm in about a year, if I remember correctly, so maybe it isn't stunted, I can't be sure. They seem to grow in stages where they put on bulk and then grow in length, alternating over time. Mine seems to have just finished a "bulking up" stage :)

[doomfin]

ok cool, so i don't need to worry

[brads]

You should post a pic of your tank that 10 foot must look awesome !....ask your friend what he fed it ?
I would feed it blood worms,krill,ox heart ,and some cichlid pellets ...it should go for the krill most fish do

[doomfin]

mine is growing side ways now, its getting fat

i have attached my tank:bigsmile:

[Gareth]

your tank looks awesome man, really great

[Nirv]

Nice! Anything you can put next to it for some perspective?

[doomfin]

what you mean Nirv

[f-fish]

"some perspective" ... "what you mean" Since we have nothing to size it against it could just be a 3ft (not that I am saying that it is) if you have something of standard size that most people can relate to then we can all appreciate the scale of the tank ;-)

Like the background is that real peables stuck down with silicone?

[Nirv]

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I hope f-fish clarified it for you?

[doomfin]

hey, nirv i just didn't understand you. Sorry. will see what i can do

[Nirv]

Cool no worries.