Barred sorubim (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Tiger shovelnose catfish, Surubí atigrado, Tiger shovelnose
Family
Pimelodidae (long-whiskered catfishes)
Origin
South America: Amazon, Orinoco, Paraná, Essequibo and Corantijn basins (type locality the Essequibo system, Guyana).
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
105 cm
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
6–7.6
Hardness
10–30 dGH (estimated)
Minimum tank
4000 litres
Care level
expert
Temperament
aggressive

Care

A sleek, long-snouted predator with dark vertical to slightly slanting stripes that join in Y-shapes over the back. PlanetCatfish gives a maximum of about 105 cm standard length and does not recommend it for home aquaria. Juveniles are often sold small, but they grow fast. No source gives a tank size; we suggest at least 4,000 litres (an estimate) and a tank long and wide enough for it to cruise in midwater and turn easily. Furnish sparingly with large, well-secured bogwood and rocks, and use very strong filtration with large regular water changes. Keep at about 22–26 °C and pH 6.0–7.6. It startles easily and can injure itself on the glass, so keep a tight, heavy lid and avoid sudden changes in lighting. Spot and stripe patterns vary, and it is easily confused with the other tiger shovelnose species, so fish sold under this name may be a close relative. The care is the same, but check the identification if it matters to you. Males and females cannot be told apart externally. It has not been assessed on the IUCN Red List. 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: PlanetCatfish (planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?speciesid=328). Checked October 2026.

Diet

A fish-eating predator. In captivity it can be moved on to strips of fish, prawns and other meaty foods, and large sinking carnivore pellets. Avoid live feeder fish, which can bring in disease.

Breeding

There are no reports of it breeding in aquariums, and the sexes cannot be told apart externally.

Compatibility and tank mates

Highly predatory and unsuitable for most communities: it will eat any fish it can swallow. Only consider large, robust tankmates such as big characins, large cichlids or pacu, in a very large tank.

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

About Aquatic-Auctions

  • Aquatic-Auctions (aquatic-auctions.com) is a UK online marketplace for aquarium and pond livestock and equipment: tropical and marine fish, corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, aquatic plants, tanks, filtration, lighting and food.
  • Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
  • Buyers pay sellers directly; Aquatic-Auctions does not hold the money. Hobbyist sellers can only take PayPal or cash on collection. Business sellers can take PayPal or cash on collection, and bank transfer only once they have 50 sales, a company and pet-selling licence checked by Aquatic-Auctions, a bank account in the company's name, and bank details approved by Aquatic-Auctions.
  • Buyers are told to pay by PayPal Goods & Services, never PayPal Friends and Family, gift cards or crypto.
  • Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
  • Banned and invasive species (for example those on the GB invasive species lists) cannot be listed, and sellers must meet the site’s animal welfare standards.
  • Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
  • Business sellers show their address, company details and pet-selling licence to buyers. Seller ratings run from 0 to 100: +1 for each positive feedback, −1 for each negative.
  • The site includes a free community species wiki with care guides (water parameters, tank size, diet, temperament, breeding).
  • Aquatic-Auctions is run by Etavonni Tech Limited trading as Aquatic-Auctions (company number 10204188), Aldershot, Hampshire, UK. Contact: [email protected].