Duckbill catfish
Sorubim lima
- Tank length
- 180 cmabout 6 ft (71 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 23–30 °C73–86 °F
- pH
- 6.2–7.2
- Adult size
- 35 cm14 in
- Lifespan
- 10–20 yrs
Peaceful with large fish but eats anything that fits its mouth; needs a long tank with hiding tubes.Peaceful with large fish but eats anything that fits its mouth; needs a long tank with hiding tubes.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African butterfly cichlid
Duckbill catfish may eat African butterfly cichlidDuckbill catfish may eat African butterfly cichlid
- African clawed frog
Duckbill catfish may eat African clawed frogDuckbill catfish may eat African clawed frog
- Agassiz's cory
Duckbill catfish may eat Agassiz's coryDuckbill catfish may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
Duckbill catfish may eat Ajamaru rainbowfishDuckbill catfish may eat Ajamaru rainbowfish
Amano shrimpDuckbill catfish may eat Amano shrimpDuckbill catfish may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Duckbill catfish may eat American flagfishDuckbill catfish may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
Duckbill catfish may eat Angfa rainbowfishDuckbill catfish may eat Angfa rainbowfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Duckbill catfish may eat Arfak rainbowfishDuckbill catfish may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailDuckbill catfish may eat Assassin snailDuckbill catfish may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
Duckbill catfish may eat Banded gouramiDuckbill catfish may eat Banded gourami
- Bandit cory
Duckbill catfish may eat Bandit coryDuckbill catfish may eat Bandit cory
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 23–30 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.2–7.2 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Amazon, Orinoco and Paraná basins | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 10–20 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 24 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 180 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |