Mini Lima Shovelnose Catfish?

[MooseMann]

I have a Lima Shovelnose Catfish. I have had him for a year now, bought him at about 3 inches and over the last year he has grown probably less than an inch. He is now about 4 inches. Is this normal growth rate? He eats tilapia and shrimp. Usually a couple pieces a day. Sometimes every other day. He’s in a 220 gallon tank and has plenty of space. Thanks for your input!

 

[Joshuakahan]

I have a Lima Shovelnose Catfish. I have had him for a year now, bought him at about 3 inches and over the last year he has grown probably less than an inch. He is now about 4 inches. Is this normal growth rate? He eats tilapia and shrimp. Usually a couple pieces a day. Sometimes every other day. He’s in a 220 gallon tank and has plenty of space. Thanks for your input!

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I had a Lima a couple years ago and it also grew very slowly although it ate a lot. From what I understand they do grow slowly but I think there’s a couple species sold as lima and one stays smaller than the other. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in

 

[Backfromthedead]

2 species commonly sold as lima shovelnose, sorubim lima and sorubim elongatus of which lima is the significantly larger. I cant tell for sure at that size in those photos but i think you may have sorubim elongatus.

Im not sure what typical growth is but yours does seem to be a bit sluggish, though the fish looks thick and healthy imo. Do you feed any pellets at all? Just tilapia chunks and shrimp might not be fulfilling all if the fishes dietary requirements.

Jexnell

 

[MooseMann]

2 species commonly sold as lima shovelnose, sorubim lima and sorubim elongatus of which lima is the significantly larger. I cant tell for sure at that size in those photos but i think you may have sorubim elongatus.

Im not sure what typical growth is but yours does seem to be a bit sluggish, though the fish looks thick and healthy imo. Do you feed any pellets at all? Just tilapia chunks and shrimp might not be fulfilling all if the fishes dietary requirements.

Jexnell

Yeah when I bought him I did some research and realized I most likely didn’t get a true Lima Shovelnose and bought the sorubim elongatus. But I’d imagine he’s be bigger than 4 inches after a year. I have tried pellets and it wasn’t interested in them. I also tried worms as I read they really like those. But only has eaten shrimp and tilapia.

 

[Jexnell]

As mentioned it's time to move it over to pellets. Also I would get it some plants or branches to hide in.
They are ambush predators and like to hangout around the middle of the water volume.

 

[MooseMann]

Would Hikari carnivore pellets work good? Or is there something better? Also is there something I could do to help him go after them? Last time I tried he didn’t like them or want anything to do with them

 

[Jexnell]

Switching fish over to pellets can be a difficult process for sure.
A trick you can try is to thaw out some frozen bloodworms and then soak the food in the bloodworm water as to add a irresistible flavor.
Yes they may not eat for a bit, but remember they won't starve to death, in time they will start eating the pellets. If he don't go for the bloodworm soaked food give it a couple days then try again.

 

[MooseMann]

Switching fish over to pellets can be a difficult process for sure.
A trick you can try is to thaw out some frozen bloodworms and then soak the food in the bloodworm water as to add a irresistible flavor.
Yes they may not eat for a bit, but remember they won't starve to death, in time they will start eating the pellets. If he don't go for the bloodworm soaked food give it a couple days then try again.

Thank you! Ill give that a shot!

 

[Joshuakahan]

Thank you! Ill give that a shot!

Another idea is if soaking the pellets doesn’t work, you can press them into the tilapia

 

[aroijuana]

For now until you get it on pellets you can soak the tilapia in vitachem.