Zebra shovelnose (Brachyplatystoma tigrinum) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Zebra shovelnose, Tiger-striped catfish, Dourada zebra, Merodontotus tigrinus
Family
Pimelodidae (long-whiskered catfishes)
Origin
South America: the Amazon basin, including the Solimões, Japurá/Caquetá and Madeira rivers, where it lives in whitewater rapids and cataracts.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
60 cm
Temperature
24–28°C
pH
6.8–7.6
Hardness
10–30 dGH (estimated)
Minimum tank
3000 litres
Care level
expert
Temperament
semi_aggressive

Care

A rarely seen, strikingly zebra-striped catfish from whitewater cataracts in the Amazon basin. It was formerly placed in its own genus as Merodontotus tigrinus. PlanetCatfish's database records no aquarium keepers, only field sightings, so there is little first-hand aquarium experience. It reaches about 60 cm standard length. The 3,000-litre minimum here is our estimate for an adult: it is a fast-water species that needs a very long tank, a strong current, high oxygen levels and powerful filtration. The figures we read give 24–28 °C and pH 6.8–7.6. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern (assessed 2020). Selling: our policies require the adult size and long-term tank needs to be stated clearly in the listing. Large fish must travel by a specialist live-animal courier (see the Livestock shipping guide). Sources: Aquatic Republic (aquaticrepublic.com/brachyplatystomatigrinum), which shares PlanetCatfish's Cat-eLog data; we could not reach the PlanetCatfish species page itself at the time of checking. Checked October 2026.

Diet

The sources we read do not describe its diet. Like other Brachyplatystoma it is expected to be a predator of fish, so offer fish, prawns and mussel, and train it onto dead foods.

Breeding

No breeding has been reported.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not documented. As a large, predatory pimelodid it should be assumed to eat any fish it can swallow, so keep it only with large, robust fish in a very large tank.

Last updated 5 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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