Lima Shovelnose

[dbanner]

Hi first off I'm sorry if this is posted in the wrong section but I wasn't quite sure where it should be.

Iv been online trying to research Lima shovelnose catfish for the passed week or so but can't seem to find much info on them. All I did manage to find is they are one of the smaller types of catfish (that I already knew) only growing to around 15-18 inches. Although some sources say 14 inches is more likely, they need temp of around 24-28 degrees and that they feel more at home with a steady (but not too strong) flow. I also found a few websites saying a tank of 55 gallons minimum for 1... My first thought was, this must be wrong

I'm interested in buying one for my Rio 400 which as most of you might now is 450 litres / 125 US gallons. The measurements are 151x51x66 cm (Sorry but not too sure what that is exactly in inches apart from 60 inches long).

If I was too buy one it would be just over 4 inches long. The only tank mates would be an ornate bichir (just over 5 inches) and a golden nugget plec (around 3-4 inches). Iv moved my 2 senegals and my delhezi to my 200 litre tank as I don't want to overstock the 450.

So all in all what I want to know is, is my 450 big enough for 1 Lima shovelnose and would it be compatible with my ornate bichir and plec?

Thanks

 

[kizno1]

Personally i wouldnt keep one in anything less than a 6x2x2. You have to remember the 16-18" isnt including tail and whiskers which to keep a fish that size in a tank not much wider than it is long seems unfair to me. Plus they are a social fish and would be best kept in a group of 3+ so personally i wouldnt. I think one of the smaller Pimelodidae like maybe Pimelodus ornatus or blochii

 

[dbanner]

That's fine then because il have either a 6x2x2 within the next 2 months (which iv been given the all clear for by my other half) or if I can persuade her il be having the 8x2x2. Either way in getting one or the other within 2 months. Only reason it's not in the house yet is I'm set on the 8 foot but she's not playing nice lol

From what iv read so far they don't grow incredibly fast so a 4 inch Lima in my tank should be ok until August? Maybe even July?

 

[simonas]

ive got my eye on one of these in my LFS for my 60 inch tank lovely fish as well when bigger

 

[MBOU]

They are gorgeous fish! I miss mine but I found personally that he didnt like others of the same species (he killed two others when younger!) so I kept mine with adult angels and discus in a 340L tank, he had an 8x3x2 to go into.

I tried him in the 8ft tank but he hid in the corner and stopped feeding, he wasa very sedintary fish except at feeding times, he sat with his nose resting on an ornament that housed the tyre track eel and in the flow and moved when i dropped food in. He lived on Hikari Massivore Pellets plus prawn, cockle and muscle.

Id be vary wary what you keep them with, they seem to just... inhale food plus any other fish that happens to be interested in the food as well, not fussy! LOL mine was 30cm not counting tail, whiskers not counting as they face backwards. He ate more fish than he ought to have been able to, ate some good sized angels and a pair of youngish red spot severums

They need absolutely spot on water, i struggled to keep him in anything other than RO water purely because he had such a high protein diet and produced so much waste.

They shed their slime coat a lot, especially when stressed or unhappy andit really screws the filters and tank decor up. I swear sometimes my one produced enough slime to put a hagfish to shame! (i discovered he didnt much are for other species of catfish and openly shared his disgust!)

 

[dbanner]

Thanks for the replys, I must admit I'm slightly put off buy them needing RO water and the part about the slim coat messing up the filters

They are truly stunning fish even though iv only ever seen one in person. The one I got my eye on is from Trimar and he/she is £20 (without delivery) and like I said is roughly 4 inches long. I was only looking to get a single one but 2 or 3 would be an option if need be.

I just love catfish and this one seems the to be the realistic choice compared to the huge red tails and tiger shovelnose

 

[MBOU]

Well, they dont shed slime too often unless they are stressed... they should be ok in tapwatyer if you can hold your water quality really well. I guess mine didnt help as it came out the tap at 50ppm!!

 

[dbanner]

Thank you. In never had any problems with fish that have died from water quality only ever lost 5 fish. 1 of which was a Texas which died from ich the other 4 were piranhas that the dominant piranha killed

I suppose every fish is different and you are always going to get fish more stable than others... Like discus I know are sensitive to water change.

I do really want a lima and I'm trying to think of the positives of owning one rather than the negatives. Obviously I hope to own him/her for many years with minimal problems. Every time I see a picture of one or a video on YouTube it makes me want one more

As it is I'm doing doing 1 weekly 40% water change but iv heard 2 weekly would be better? That wouldn't be a problem. I also use seachem prime with each water change.

 

[MBOU]

I think if you could manage two water changes, you would be fine, you could try it with one and increase it to two if you need to. If you know you have that option... id be tempted to go for it!

Of all of the hundreds of species i have kept, the limia is one i would keep again! (very few made it to that list!)

 

[dbanner]

Two a week wouldnt be a problem. I have OCD which is very good for my fish because I can't leave my tanks unless its always near perfect lol does get rather time consuming though now and then.

Anyway you have managed to convince me and so I ordered him/her yesterday and it will be delivered to me within the next 4 hours I really hope it does well in my tank and I have it for years to come. I think they make a great addition to a tank. If the tank mates are suitable of course or maybe a species tank.

Any other advice you could give me? Like on what to feed so it has a good healthy life? I'm off to my lfs in a bit, anything I should pick up?

Thanks so much for the info so far