Tiger shovelnose catfish
Brachyplatystoma tigrinum
- Adult size
- 50 cm20 in
- Start with
- 1
- Tank length
- 300 cmabout 10 ft (118 in)
- Lifespan
- 15–20 yrs
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C75–82 °F
- pH
- 6.8–7.6
- Hardness
- 1–25 dGH
- Diet
- carnivore
A strong-current predator that eats any fish it can swallow and needs a very long, highly oxygenated tank.A strong-current predator that eats any fish it can swallow and needs a very long, highly oxygenated tank.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
Tiger shovelnose catfish may eat Acei cichlidTiger shovelnose catfish may eat Acei cichlid
- African butterfly cichlid
Tiger shovelnose catfish may eat African butterfly cichlidTiger shovelnose catfish may eat African butterfly cichlid
- African clawed frog
Tiger shovelnose catfish may eat African clawed frogTiger shovelnose catfish may eat African clawed frog
- Agassiz's cory
Tiger shovelnose catfish may eat Agassiz's coryTiger shovelnose catfish may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
Tiger shovelnose catfish may eat Ajamaru rainbowfishTiger shovelnose catfish may eat Ajamaru rainbowfish
Amano shrimpTiger shovelnose catfish may eat Amano shrimpTiger shovelnose catfish may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Tiger shovelnose catfish may eat American flagfishTiger shovelnose catfish may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
Tiger shovelnose catfish may eat Angfa rainbowfishTiger shovelnose catfish may eat Angfa rainbowfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Tiger shovelnose catfish may eat Arfak rainbowfishTiger shovelnose catfish may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailTiger shovelnose catfish may eat Assassin snailTiger shovelnose catfish may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
Tiger shovelnose catfish may eat Banded gouramiTiger shovelnose catfish may eat Banded gourami
- Bandit cory
Tiger shovelnose catfish may eat Bandit coryTiger shovelnose catfish may eat Bandit cory
Sources
| temperature | 24–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 6.8–7.6 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 1–25 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Amazon basin, Brazil and Peru | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | A strong-current predator that eats any fish it can swallow and needs a very lon | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #E8E0D0, #2A2A2A | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 15–20 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 30 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.007,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 300 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | catfish | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |