Shovel nose cats

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I don't know that I would consider wyckii a shovelnose catfish, but all the species of Sperata genus definitely. There are many different types of catfish with a shovel like nose. Some even consider the North American flathead a shovelnose style catfish. If so than a close relative the Stone catfish notorus flavus may be one of the smaller ones. Lima are probably about the smallest for the type you are looking for that are readily available. Sturio cats take this a step farther.
 
It is possibly the Perruno syndrom :)

Anyway, back to the OP

Chrysichthys ornatus maxes out at 10" SL http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=520 Lovely fish. I have 3.

Smaller, pim-looking cats are in the "rarely-paid-attention-to" Heptapteridae family - browse through: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/family.php?family_id=30 including the horseface cat Goeldiella eques, ~1', http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=727, Rhamdia quelen, ~1', http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=872 , etc...
 
Goldellia eques is supposed to be hard to care for though, apparently it needs huge swimming space, strong current and isn't the easiest feeder. Don't know if this is true though.

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I've kept Goeldiella eques before. Live but just a month. Never ate for me. I would try to keep one again someday as it looked awesome. I was a newbie at the time and just wanted another catfish lol.
 
Goldellia eques is supposed to be hard to care for though, apparently it needs huge swimming space, strong current and isn't the easiest feeder. Don't know if this is true though.

Never had them but saw them and read about them. My impression is the opposite - hardy, unfussy, undemanding - which does not deny yours, only augments it, if neither of us recalls in error. Cliff's note supports your statement, I do notice.
 
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