Lima shovelnose catfish (Sorubim lima) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Lima shovelnose, Duckbill catfish, Duck-beak catfish, Hockey stick catfish, LSN, Spatelwels
Family
Pimelodidae (long-whiskered catfishes)
Origin
Widespread in South America east of the Andes: Amazon, Orinoco, Paraná and Parnaíba basins, also the middle Uruguay.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
50.5 cm
Temperature
23–30°C
pH
6.2–7.2
Hardness
Soft to medium; up to about 20 dGH
Minimum tank
1000 litres
Care level
expert
Temperament
semi_aggressive

Care

The lima shovelnose is a slender, flat-headed predator with a long, duck-like snout and a single dark stripe running the whole length of the head and body, a pattern PlanetCatfish says is unique among pimelodids. The exposed patch of teeth at the front of the upper jaw looks like a file ("lima" is Latin for file). It is often sold at 5–10 cm, but PlanetCatfish gives a maximum of about 50 cm SL, with larger fish recorded in the wild. It is a peaceful fish towards anything it cannot swallow and can be kept in groups of three or more if they are raised together. Adults are active, especially at dusk and night, and need a long tank with plenty of open swimming space; we estimate around 1,000 litres for adults (the sources give no tank size). Use a fine sandy floor and large pieces of driftwood for cover; PlanetCatfish warns that it digs, so choose robust or floating plants. A secure lid is essential. Aim for about 23–30 °C and pH 6.2–7.2 in soft to medium water (PlanetCatfish prefers soft, roughly neutral water; FishBase allows up to pH 7.8). Strong filtration and frequent water changes are needed for a big predatory fish. Sexing is unknown. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN (FishBase, 2018), though PlanetCatfish shows it as Not Evaluated. Aquarium stock is wild-caught. 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=98); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Sorubim-lima.html). Checked October 2026.

Diet

A predator of fish and crustaceans. In the aquarium it can be weaned on to prawn, mussel, krill, earthworm, fish fillet and large sinking pellets; young fish switch to new foods more readily than adults, so be patient. Avoid feeding live feeder fish, which bring disease and poor nutrition.

Breeding

Not bred in aquariums. PlanetCatfish mentions one unconfirmed report of egg-laying, but no fry hatched. In the wild it is a migratory river fish that matures at around 23 cm (FishBase).

Compatibility and tank mates

Will eat any fish small enough to swallow, which in an adult means fish of 10 cm or more. Otherwise peaceful: keep with robust, similar-sized or larger fish such as large characins, peaceful cichlids, large doradids and plecos. Groups of three or more work if raised together.

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

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