Moderate
Sorubim lima Shovel-Nosed Catfish
22–27°C · pH 6–7.5 · 600L
£46.99
The duckbill or shovelnose catfish is a large, slender South American predatory catfish with a flattened, duck-bill snout and a dark stripe along the body.
AmazonianCommunity SpeciesFishFreshwaterModerate CarePredatory Fish
Care at a Glance
Scientific Name
Sorubim lima
Max Adult Size
up to 54.2 cm
Lifespan
20 years
Care Level
Difficult
Temperament
Predatory
Temperature
23–28°C
pH Range
6–7.5
Hardness
4–15 dGH
Minimum Tank
1000L
Diet
Carnivore; prawn, mussel, squid, whitebait
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Water Parameters
Temperature
23–28°C
23°CIdeal28°C
pH Level
6–7.5
6Ideal7.5
Water Hardness
4–15 dGH
4 dGHIdeal15 dGH
Sorubim lima
Duckbill Catfish (Sorubim lima)
Advanced Care
Predatory
£44.99/ fish
Multi-Buy Pricing
— save up to 20%Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.
Selected fish
£82.80You save £7.18
Live arrival guaranteed. If they don’t arrive healthy, email us a short unboxing video the same day for a replacement or refund. Packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed.
£19.95 tracked delivery — half price (£9.98) from £100.00, free from £200.00. One delivery charge however many fish you add — everything travels together with a licensed live-animal courier.
Read our reviews on Google (opens Google Business Profile in a new tab) or see verified buyer reviews and photos. Human support, careful packing and clear delivery updates for live aquatics.
The duckbill or shovelnose catfish is a large, slender South American predatory catfish with a flattened, duck-bill snout and a dark stripe along the body.
AmazonianCommunity SpeciesFishFreshwaterModerate CarePredatory Fish
Care at a Glance
Scientific Name
Sorubim lima
Max Adult Size
up to 54.2 cm
Lifespan
20 years
Care Level
Difficult
Temperament
Predatory
Temperature
23–28°C
pH Range
6–7.5
Hardness
4–15 dGH
Minimum Tank
1000L
Diet
Carnivore; prawn, mussel, squid, whitebait
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Full Care Guide
Guppy Care Guide: Poecilia reticulata
Guppies are social livebearers suited to a prepared beginner, not a fish-per-litre formula. Use a mature filtered aquarium, tested neutral-to-alkaline mineral-bearing water, deliberate sex and population planning, open swimming room, cover and a separation option.
15 min readRead guide
Water Parameters
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Temperature
23–28°C
23°CIdeal28°C
pH Level
6–7.5
6Ideal7.5
Water Hardness
4–15 dGH
4 dGHIdeal15 dGH
Duckbill Catfish (Sorubim lima)
The duckbill or shovelnose catfish is a large, slender South American predatory catfish with a flattened, duck-bill snout and a dark stripe along the body. It is nocturnal and grows big: FishBase records a maximum of 54.2 cm total length, and it can live for more than a decade.
What you receive
Each purchase supplies one juvenile fish in the size chosen in the selector. Plan for the adult fish, not the juvenile.
Aquarium
| Minimum aquarium | Base of 200 × 75 cm or more for an adult |
| Filtration | Powerful filtration and good oxygenation |
| Substrate | Soft sand to protect the long barbels |
| Tank mates | Only fish too large to be swallowed |
Diet
Almost exclusively carnivorous. Juveniles take bloodworm, chopped earthworm and prawn; adults need larger items such as mussel, cockle, prawn, squid and whitebait, fed two or three times a week.
Customer Reviews
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What customers say about ordering from us
4.6 on Google Maps, rated 4.6 out of 5 (opens in a new tab)4.4 · 91 shop reviews read them, rated 4.4 out of 5
- 4 out of 5Verified buyer
I have a small group of long finned mountain minnows. So was delighted to be able to order ten of this variety to increase the genetics in my tank . The ones I recieved are healthy but it’s to early to give a verdict on wether they are of a long finned type since they are small currently.
Gordon Walker · 23 Sept 2026
- 5 out of 5Verified buyer
100% success travel and "installation". Pleased with quality of purchase. The Siamese fighter a bit "shy" so have not yet seen him at his best yet but looking good. Happy customer. GG
George E Garratt · 21 Sept 2026
Reviews of our shop, collected by Judge.me, an independent third-party review collector. Newest first.
