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Spotted Shovelnose Catfish

Pseudoplatystoma corruscans

The Spotted Shovelnose Catfish (up to 150 cm) is a massive Pimelodid native to the Paraná and São Francisco basins in South America. Distinctive for its sleek, elongated body decorated with dark circular spots rather than stripes, it features a highly flat, shovel-like head. This large predator requires specialized setups, ideally indoor ponds or massive circular tanks of over 3,000 liters, to ensure it does not injure its delicate flat snout against the walls when startled.

Taxonomy

Class:Actinopteri

Order:Siluriformes

Family:Pimelodidae

Genus:Pseudoplatystoma

Species:Pseudoplatystoma corruscans

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Water Temperature

22 - 28 °C

pH Value

6 - 7.5

Water type

Freshwater

Tank level

Bottom

Adult size

100 cm

Minimum tank volume

>= 500 L

Minimum group

>= 1

5 - 15 dGH

2 - 7 dKH

TDS

95 - 295 ppm

Conductivity

148 - 461 uS/cm

Species description

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the large basins of the Paraná and São Francisco rivers in South America. They inhabit deep open waters, river bends, and sandy beds with active currents. These fish are highly migratory in the wild, traveling long distances to spawn. The environment is typically turbid, where their three pairs of sensory barbels compensate for limited vision.

Taxonomy and Morphology: A member of the Pimelodidae family, sharing the hydrodynamic structure of other Pseudoplatystoma. It is scaleless with a torpedo-shaped body and a massive, bone-like head that is vertically compressed into a shovel or spatula shape. This morphology allows it to rest on the substrate against strong currents and open its cavernous mouth to swallow whole fish.

Social Behavior: A nocturnal predator. It is sedentary during the day, resting on the flat substrate, but becomes highly active at night, patrolling the bottom levels of the tank. As an opportunistic ambush suction predator, it can quickly swallow any prey that fits into its expandable mouth. It is peaceful toward tankmates that are too large to be considered prey.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Features a lead-gray, silver, or light purplish dorsal color densely covered with distinct, circular black spots (polka dots). The belly is white. There is no externally visible sexual dimorphism.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Aquarium Setup: An indoor pond or exceptionally large custom tank is mandatory for adults. Due to their large size, they require circular enclosures or tanks at least 300 to 400 cm in length (minimum 3,000 liters). The swimming area must be completely free of decorative obstacles like driftwood or rocks, which could cause facial fractures during panic-induced swimming. Soft silica sand is required to protect their sensitive bellies.

Diet and Feeding: A large carnivorous predator. They feed on whole pieces of white fish, squid, and large whole shrimp with shells, which provide beneficial pigments. They also accept sinking carnivore pellets. Avoid feeding mammal meat (such as beef heart) or diseased live feeder fish, as these can cause fatal liver necrosis or parasitic infections.

Water Quality: High-capacity filtration is necessary to handle the large bioload. They thrive at slightly cooler temperatures than typical Amazonian species, between 22 and 26°C. They tolerate a wide pH range of 6.0 to 7.5. Strong water movement is required to simulate their native river current and maintain muscle tone, while a robust sump or bead filter manages waste.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Peaceful, but anything that fits into its mouth will be consumed at night. It should only be housed with very large, robust tankmates such as adult Pacu, Silver Arowana, and large freshwater stingrays. Smaller tankmates under 30 cm will eventually be preyed upon.

Aquarium Breeding: Breeding is not possible in home aquariums. Spawning is only achieved in large aquaculture pools using hormone injections to induce spawning. In commercial aquaculture, they are sometimes cross-bred with the Tiger Shovelnose (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) to produce fast-growing hybrids for food.

Risks and Diseases: 1. Snout Fractures: If kept in small tanks, the fish may panic when startled and collide with the glass, fracturing its delicate spatula-like snout. This deformity prevents feeding and is fatal. 2. Gravel Impaction: Keeping them on gravel is dangerous as they may ingest rocks while feeding, causing fatal intestinal blockage. Soft sand must be used. 3. Chemical Sensitivity: As scaleless fish, they are highly sensitive to copper-based medications, malachite green, or high salinity, which can cause severe skin burns and chemical ulcerations.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Native to the large basins of the Paraná and São Francisco rivers in South America. They inhabit deep open waters, river bends, and sandy beds with active currents. These fish are highly migratory in the wild, traveling long distances to spawn. The environment is typically turbid, where their three pairs of sensory barbels compensate for limited vision.

Origin

Tropical oceans and reefsExtra-Amazon South America

Fish profile

Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Sex ratio: Solitary
Feeding frequency: Twice daily
Bioload: This massive catfish produces an incredibly high bioload. Huge filtration systems and massive water changes are absolutely necessary. They require gigantic custom aquariums or indoor ponds.
Flow: Stagnant
Reproduction: Oviparous
Compatibility & tankmates: They are highly predatory and will eat any fish that fits in their enormous mouths. They should be kept alone or with similarly massive, robust species. Small or medium tank mates will be quickly consumed.
Tank level: Bottom

FishBase

Window to the official scientific data of the species

Data synced on: 06/15/2026

Scientific Parameters & Models

Trophic level: 4.5 ± 0.8 se
Resilience: Low (4.5 - 14 years)
Generation time: 10 years
Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50): 0.5039
Bayesian Length-Weight: a = 0.00776, b = 3.08

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Tiger Shovelnose Catfish

Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum

Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates