shovelnose catfish?

**h&hmarine** · 11-17-2012, 01:32 PM

I was at the pet store the other day and they had about an 8 inch shovelnose for sale. My question is does this fish require a heater? I have a blue channel cat and a golden bulkhead in with other native lake species in a 150g but I don't run a heater. I asked the lady there and she told me the tank it was in was 80 degrees so it must reguire warm water.

**Angelfish11788** · 11-17-2012, 02:19 PM

they are tropical, if it is NOT a lima nose, the regular ones get massive like 500 gallon massive. The limas can be kept in a 200 to 250 gallon. they are however slow growers, but would not go with your stock already.

**Indian Woods Angels** · 11-17-2012, 09:04 PM

I think the blue channel will grow faster and eat it.

**Angelfish11788** · 11-17-2012, 11:32 PM

yes channels will outgrow pretty much everything but a pond

**h&hmarine** · 11-18-2012, 11:44 PM

I looked at him again today and it just says shovelnose and a maximum size of 18"..when my blue channel gets too big I have a buddy with a pond and he will go in there...I've had him about 6 months and he's only grown maybe an inch...so I should have a few years

**Angelfish11788** · 11-19-2012, 02:04 AM

Originally Posted by h&hmarine

I looked at him again today and it just says shovelnose and a maximum size of 18"..when my blue channel gets too big I have a buddy with a pond and he will go in there...I've had him about 6 months and he's only grown maybe an inch...so I should have a few years

I used to own a lima back when i had my monster tank, I am about 90% sure that there isnt any shovelnose under 3 feet, maybe another big cat keeper will chime. IMO I wouldnt get one unless you are prepared with tank first. those big shovels need LOTS of filtration,

**Crispy** · 11-19-2012, 11:29 AM

tiger shovelnose get REAL big

limas look like this and don't get nearly as big. limas can be housed in large tanks.

both species are very common in the aquarium trade.

**h&hmarine** · 11-21-2012, 01:47 AM

Yeah I'm not going to get him..my tank is 150 gallon but like I said no heater so I don't want to take a chance on killing him even though the tank stays about 66 degrees. I'm just going to try to catch a few more yellow perch and stick with the two cats I have now.

**Angelfish11788** · 11-22-2012, 05:10 PM

the only small cold water monster cats that are a descent size are bullheads

**h&hmarine** · 11-23-2012, 02:04 AM

Bullheads dont get very big though..the lakes around here are loaded with them and I've never seen one over about 16"...channel cats are the monster coldwater cats or blue cats.