Tiger Shovelnose (Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum) Care Guide
Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum is a large migratory predatory catfish of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, reaching about 130 cm.
Overview
Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum, the tiger sorubim or tiger shovelnose, is a long-whiskered catfish of the family Pimelodidae, described by Valenciennes in 1840. According to FishBase it reaches about 130 cm in length and matures around 99 cm, suiting only public-aquarium-scale systems.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pimelodidae
- Genus: Pseudoplatystoma
- Scientific name: Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the Amazon and Orinoco River basins. It is a freshwater (also brackish) demersal fish occupying main river channels and flooded forests from estuaries to headwaters, with juveniles favouring flooded forest. It is migratory, moving with prey populations seasonally. FishBase cites a pH of 6.2-7.2 and temperatures of 22-26 °C.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 2000 L
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (72-79 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-15 °dGH
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
Diet
FishBase describes it as an opportunistic piscivore (trophic level about 4.5) feeding on fish, crabs and shrimps. It is a nocturnal predator.
Compatibility
A semi-aggressive, nocturnal, bottom-dwelling predator. Given its adult size it should only be housed with similarly large fish; the KB record warns against keeping it with small fish that would be eaten.
Conservation status
FishBase lists the species as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessed 2020). Wikipedia notes it is commercially significant in gill-net fisheries and that juveniles are popular in the aquarium trade as tiger shovelnose.