Tiger Shovelnose x Redtail Hybrid Catfish (Pseudoplatystoma × Phractocephalus)

Understand the Tiger Shovelnose x Redtail Catfish before you buy

The Tiger Shovelnose x Redtail Catfish is a hybrid between two of the largest catfish in South America: a tiger shovelnose catfish of the genus Pseudoplatystoma and the red-tailed catfish, Phractocephalus hemioliopterus. Both belong to the family Pimelodidae, the long-whiskered catfish. The cross does not exist as a natural species. It is produced on fish farms, and the youngster you buy is small, striking and very cheap compared with the system it will need as an adult.

We want to be completely honest about that last point before anything else. This fish grows to about a metre, eats any fish it can swallow, may live for decades and needs a custom aquarium of several thousand litres. It is a fish for an experienced keeper who already owns, or has firmly planned and budgeted, a very large system. It is not a fish to "grow on" in an ordinary aquarium and sort out later.

Check the names on the label

The striped parent is less clear-cut than the name suggests. Practical Fishkeeping names Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum, while SCOTCAT notes that crosses of this kind "may be" Pseudoplatystoma × Phractocephalus. The genus itself was revised in 2007, when Buitrago-Suárez and Burr recognised eight species of Pseudoplatystoma, all fished commercially and all with juveniles in the ornamental trade. On Brazilian farms, Hashimoto and colleagues (2016) describe a red-tailed catfish cross called cachapira, bred from a female Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum and a male P. hemioliopterus.

Recognise it from our photographs

Our photographs show the look these hybrids are sold for: a long, flattened shovel-shaped snout with long white barbels, a bronze to olive body crossed by dark, wavy tiger bars, a clean white belly, spotted dorsal and adipose fins and a bright orange-red tail with black spots. Hybrids are not uniform. SCOTCAT stresses that a hybrid is simply the offspring of two different species, and Hashimoto and colleagues found that hybrids cannot be identified reliably by eye, especially as juveniles and beyond the first generation. Expect each fish to differ in stripe pattern, tail colour and head shape.

Face the adult size honestly

No scientific body has published a maximum size for the hybrid, so we use the best figures available. SCOTCAT gives 90 cm and says it could reach 110 cm. Practical Fishkeeping says the size of the hybrid is unknown, notes that adult red-tailed catfish commonly reach 90 cm or more and that tiger shovelnoses can grow just as large, and warns that hybrids may grow faster and larger than either parent.

Compare the parents' recorded sizes

Standard length is measured from the snout to the base of the tail, so the fish is longer still with its tail. Growth is fast. Practical Fishkeeping reports hybrids reaching "a couple of feet in less than 18 months" and stock that trebled in size in a few months, and Seriously Fish says P. fasciatum reaches close to its maximum size quickly in captivity. A juvenile that fits in your hand today can outgrow a 2-metre aquarium within a few years.

Plan for a long life too. No lifespan has been published for the hybrid, but Seriously Fish says the tiger shovelnose parent can live for well over 20 years.

Know exactly what you receive

One purchase supplies one live Tiger Shovelnose x Redtail Catfish. The size option is "Standard": the fish is sent at the size currently available, which is a juvenile far below adult size. Sex is not chosen or guaranteed, and the photographs show the form rather than the individual you will receive.

Run a five-point commitment check before you order

1. Space: you own, or have firmly planned, a system of several thousand litres for the adult fish.
2. Structure: the floor can carry it. A litre of water weighs about a kilogram, so a 4,320-litre tank holds well over four tonnes of water before glass, rock and equipment.
3. Cost: you have budgeted for it. Practical Fishkeeping estimated the tank alone at "several thousand pounds", and heating and filtering that volume costs money every month.
4. Time: you can carry out large weekly water changes for 20 years or more.
5. Exit plan: you accept that you cannot rely on a public aquarium to take it, and that release is never an option.

If any answer is "no", please choose one of our smaller catfish and plecos instead. If every answer is "yes", read our delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee information before you order and have the first aquarium running, heated and matured before the fish arrives.

Plan a system of several thousand litres

Sources agree on the scale, if not the exact figure. Practical Fishkeeping advises a 3 × 1.2 × 1.2 m tank, about 4,320 litres, for one hybrid, with a very large filtration system. Seriously Fish gives 360 × 240 × 120 cm, about 10,368 litres, as an absolute minimum for an adult red-tailed catfish, and the same dimensions for an adult P. fasciatum, adding that even this does not let the fish swim as it would in the wild. OATA says very large aquarium fish often need tanks in excess of 500 litres; for this hybrid, that is only a starting point for a juvenile.

Run the space check

1. Measure length and width: the fish must be able to turn its whole body comfortably, so floor area matters more than height.
2. Work out the real volume: our tank volume calculator turns your dimensions into litres for sizing the filter, heater and water changes.
3. Plan the stages: if you start the juvenile in a smaller aquarium, have the next tank and the final system planned and dated before you buy, because growth can outpace a slow building project.

Many keepers of fish this size use a purpose-built indoor tank or a heated indoor pond with a large pond filter. Whatever you build, it must hold steady tropical temperatures all year, so an outdoor UK pond is not suitable.

Set up open floor space and secure décor

Keep the layout simple and strong. Practical Fishkeeping recommends heavy, smooth boulders or large pieces of bogwood so the fish keeps plenty of swimming room. OATA adds three safety rules for big fish: secure all rocks and décor, protect heaters from damage and fit a fish-proof cover, because large fish can be jumpy, particularly in new surroundings.

Divide the tank by function

Leave out small loose stones, delicate ornaments and anything sharp. A metre-long catfish moves décor easily, and anything that can be shifted can crack glass or trap the fish.

Keep water within the parents' shared range

The parents come from the Amazon, Orinoco and other South American river basins. Seriously Fish describes the red-tailed catfish in habitats from rapids to flooded forest, and P. fasciatum in large rivers, lakes and flooded forest. Practical Fishkeeping notes that both parents come from soft, acidic water but are hardy and adaptable, so more alkaline water is usually fine.

Read the sources side by side

Our recommendation is the overlap of the two Seriously Fish parent profiles, and it sits inside the hybrid temperature range SCOTCAT gives. Whatever your figures, keep them stable: in thousands of litres, stability is easier to achieve than in a small tank, but large water changes must be matched for temperature and treated with a dechlorinator.

UK tap water varies from very soft to very hard depending on where you live. Test your supply before you plan, and use our water matcher and water chemistry guide to compare your readings with the range above. Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero and nitrate no more than 20 mg/l above your tap water, as OATA advises.

Build filtration for a heavy-feeding predator

A big carnivorous catfish produces a lot of waste from a single meal. OATA says a filter is always essential for very large fish and that several large filters, or a pond filter, may be needed. Practical Fishkeeping calls for a very large filtration system for one hybrid. Our guide to aquarium filtration explains mechanical and biological stages, and the nitrogen cycle explained shows why a new system must mature before any fish goes in.

Follow a weekly routine

1. Test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and temperature before you start.
2. Change at least 25% of the water every week, as OATA recommends, and more when nitrate climbs.
3. Remove uneaten food and waste from the floor the day after each meal.
4. Check intakes and pre-filters for blockages and confirm full flow.
5. Rinse biological media only in removed tank water, never under the tap, so chlorine or chloramine does not kill the bacteria.

Fit heaters with guards and consider several smaller heaters rather than one, so a single failure does not chill the whole system.

Feed large meals rarely, not small meals often

In the wild, Seriously Fish says the red-tailed catfish eats fish, invertebrates and fallen fruit. In captivity both parents usually accept dead foods: prawns, mussels, cockles, lancefish and earthworms, with white fish fillet for larger specimens. Practical Fishkeeping suggests whole shrimp and other bulky frozen foods for young hybrids and chopped or whole trout for large ones, fed only a few times a week so each meal can be digested.

Build a feeding plan by life stage

The sources differ on frequency for big fish in general: OATA's general advice is to feed once a day only what is eaten within a few minutes. For these giant catfish we follow the species advice from Seriously Fish, which warns that overfeeding and high-protein diets cause obesity, that the fat in mammal meats can damage organs and that feeder fish such as livebearers or small goldfish carry a disease risk.

Acclimatise it and watch the first week

Switch off the aquarium lights, then float the sealed bag for 10 minutes to match temperature. Add small amounts of tank water to the bag over up to 20 minutes before releasing the fish, as OATA describes. If a larger fish arrives in a box or bucket, add tank water slowly, for example with an airline siphon, and do not let the water cool too much. Our guide on how to acclimatise new fish walks through both methods.

Use a first-week checkpoint plan

A new catfish often hides at first. Steady breathing, a clean body and interest in food by the end of the first week are good signs.

Plan tank mates around its mouth

This hybrid is a predator. Seriously Fish describes both parents as peaceful towards similarly sized fish but ready to eat smaller ones, and territorial towards their own kind and other large pimelodid catfish. Practical Fishkeeping notes that many tank mates could be eaten and suggests keeping the hybrid alone. Remember that its mouth grows as fast as its body: a companion that is safe today may not be safe next year.

Screen every companion

The pure parents we sell, linked above, need the same giant systems and are no easier. If you want a shovel-snouted catfish on a far smaller scale, compare the Shovelnose Catfish (Sorubim lima), and if you mainly want a big bottom-dweller, the Common Pleco is another large fish that needs planning. Check any proposed mix with our tank mates tool, and browse the South American catfish category, the Phractocephalus red-tailed catfish page, our centrepiece fish and our rare and collector fish.

Watch for problems early

OATA lists the signs that something is wrong: clamped fins, flicking against objects, hanging at the surface or sitting on the bottom, colour change, white spots or fluffy growths, damaged fins or scales, changed breathing and reduced appetite. In a giant catfish, the commonest problems follow water quality and feeding, so test first.

Pair each sign with an action

Plan its whole life, including the hard parts

Breeding is not realistic. Seriously Fish says breeding the red-tailed catfish is not thought to have been achieved in the hobby, and this hybrid is a farm product. Rehoming is the real risk. Seriously Fish reports that cheap juveniles have led to so many adult red-tailed catfish in public aquaria that they often refuse to take more, and that released fish now live in several US states and other countries. SCOTCAT records hybrids of this kind caught in a river in Thailand.

Write the long-term plan before you buy

• Never release it: OATA states that releasing aquarium animals into the wild is illegal and usually fatal to the fish.
• Know the debate: Practical Fishkeeping notes that hybrids are frowned upon by purists, and Hashimoto and colleagues warn that farmed catfish hybrids can be mis-sold as pure species and risk the genetic integrity of wild and farmed stocks. Keep this fish as the hybrid it is and never present it as a pure species.
• Ask us first: if your circumstances change, contact us before the fish becomes a problem, so we can talk through realistic options.

Kept properly, the Tiger Shovelnose x Redtail Catfish is an impressive, long-lived centrepiece. Kept without a plan, it becomes a fish nobody can house. We would rather you buy it knowing exactly which of those it will be.

Answer Tiger Shovelnose x Redtail Catfish buying questions

What is a Tiger Shovelnose x Redtail Catfish?

It is a farmed hybrid between a tiger shovelnose catfish (genus Pseudoplatystoma) and the red-tailed catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus), two giant South American catfish of the family Pimelodidae. It does not occur as a natural species. Trade fish usually show tiger-striped flanks, a long flattened snout and a red tail.

How big does it grow?

Expect a fish of about a metre. SCOTCAT gives 90 cm for the hybrid and says it could reach 110 cm, and Practical Fishkeeping reports hybrids reaching a couple of feet in under 18 months. The parents are bigger still: Seriously Fish gives the red-tailed catfish 1340 mm and Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum 1040 mm standard length.

What size aquarium does it need?

A custom system of several thousand litres. Practical Fishkeeping advises a 3 × 1.2 × 1.2 m tank (about 4,320 litres) for one hybrid, and Seriously Fish gives 360 × 240 × 120 cm (about 10,368 litres) as the absolute minimum for an adult of either parent. No standard home aquarium is big enough for an adult.

Can I keep it with other fish?

Only with very large, robust fish that cannot fit in its mouth, and only in a system big enough for both. It eats any fish it can swallow, and Seriously Fish describes both parents as territorial towards their own kind and other large pimelodid catfish. Practical Fishkeeping suggests keeping the hybrid alone.

What does it eat and how often?

Meaty sinking foods: prawns, mussels, cockles, lancefish, earthworms and, for big fish, white fish fillet. Seriously Fish advises feeding juveniles every other day and adults one meal a week at most, because these catfish easily become overweight. Avoid mammal meats and live feeder fish.

How long does it live?

No lifespan has been published for the hybrid. Seriously Fish says its tiger shovelnose parent can live for well over 20 years, so plan for a commitment of two decades.

Can a public aquarium take it if it outgrows my tank?

Do not rely on it. Seriously Fish reports that public aquaria already hold many adult red-tailed catfish and often refuse to accept any more. Plan the adult system before you buy.

Can I release it or put it in a garden pond?

Never release it. OATA states that releasing aquarium animals into the wild is illegal and usually fatal to the fish. An outdoor UK pond is also far too cold for a tropical catfish that needs about 22–26°C all year.

How many fish come with one purchase?

One live juvenile fish of the standard size currently available. Sex is not chosen or guaranteed, and the photographs show the form rather than the individual you receive.

Consult the care references

• Seriously Fish: Phractocephalus hemioliopterus — red-tailed catfish parent: maximum size, distribution and habitat, adult aquarium dimensions, water values, diet and feeding frequency, behaviour, public-aquarium and release problems.
• Seriously Fish: Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum — tiger shovelnose parent: maximum size, growth in captivity, lifespan, adult aquarium dimensions, water values, diet and feeding frequency, behaviour and the note on red-tail hybrids bred for food.
• FishBase: Phractocephalus hemioliopterus — maximum recorded length and weight, environment values, distribution and IUCN status of the red-tailed catfish.
• FishBase: Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum — maximum recorded length and weight, environment values, distribution and IUCN status of Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum.
• Practical Fishkeeping: Redtail catfish Tiger shovelnose hybrid — UK magazine profile of the red-tail and tiger shovelnose cross: origin, growth, tank size for one fish, feeding and the hobby view of hybrids.
• SCOTCAT: Phractocephalus sp. hybrid (1) — catfish database entry for the Pseudoplatystoma x Phractocephalus hybrid: names, size, temperature and pH, aquaculture origin and records from Thai rivers.
• Hashimoto et al. 2016, Neotropical Ichthyology: Molecular identification of intergenus crosses involving catfish hybrids — peer-reviewed study of pimelodid hybrids on Brazilian fish farms, including the red-tailed catfish cross and the limits of identifying hybrids by eye.
• Buitrago-Suárez & Burr 2007, Zootaxa: Taxonomy of the catfish genus Pseudoplatystoma — peer-reviewed revision of the genus Pseudoplatystoma recognising eight species, all fished commercially, with juveniles in the ornamental trade.
• OATA: How to look after very large / tankbuster fish — UK trade-body guidance for very large aquarium fish: tank volume, filtration, heating, covers, feeding, acclimatisation, water quality and release.
• Tropical Fish Co delivery policy — current dispatch days and Live Arrival Guarantee terms.