Shovelnose Catfish (Sorubim lima) Care Guide
Sorubim lima is a long, shovel-snouted South American predatory catfish requiring a very large tank and meaty foods.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Sorubim lima, the duckbill or shovelnose catfish, was described by Bloch and Schneider in 1801. According to FishBase it is a South American long-whiskered catfish reaching about 54 cm total length. Its elongated, flattened, shovel-shaped snout reflects a predatory, bottom-oriented lifestyle.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pimelodidae
- Genus: Sorubim
- Scientific name: Sorubim lima
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the Amazon, Orinoco, Parana and Parnaiba River basins of tropical South America. Seriously Fish reports it from turbid white-water rivers and floodplain lakes, with juveniles aggregating around thickets of grasses and reeds or submerged wood.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 600 L; Seriously Fish suggests a base footprint of 200x75 cm or larger
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (72-79 °F); FishBase lists 23-30 °C
- pH: 6-7.5
- GH: 2-15 °dGH
- Lifespan: about 8-15 years
Diet
FishBase describes it as a nocturnal feeder on fishes and crustaceans. Seriously Fish states it is almost exclusively carnivorous, preying on smaller fish, crustaceans and invertebrates, and that adults can be fed meaty foods such as mussel, prawn and whitebait two to three times weekly. It will eat any tankmate small enough to swallow.
Compatibility
Seriously Fish describes the species as otherwise quite peaceful, but anything that fits in its mouth should not be kept with it. Juveniles are gregarious and adults can be housed together in large tanks with suitably large, non-territorial companions. It is nocturnal and bottom-dwelling.
Breeding
Seriously Fish notes limited information, reporting that the species is known to spawn at the onset of the rainy season, as with many other Amazonian fishes; captive breeding is not commonly documented.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (FishBase cites an assessment dated 7 November 2018).
Sorubim lima Breeding Guide
Overview
Sorubim lima, the duckbill or shovelnose catfish, is a long, flat-snouted predator of the family Pimelodidae found across northern and central South America, including the Amazon, Orinoco, Parana, Parnaiba and Tocantins basins. Seriously Fish reports a maximum standard length around 40-50 cm, with the fish occupying turbid white-water rivers and quieter floodplain lakes.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
According to Seriously Fish, little has been established regarding the reproductive biology of Sorubim species, though they are known to spawn at the onset of the rainy season, as with many other Amazonian fishes. Wikipedia adds only generic biological data and provides no breeding details, underscoring how poorly the species' reproduction is documented.
Egg & Fry Care
No documented egg or fry-rearing data exists for home settings. Juveniles in the wild gather among grasses, reeds and submerged wood in floodplain habitats.