Breeding / Rarely bred at home
Rarely bred at home · Hard
Breeding the tiger shovelnose catfish
Not reported in the hobby; in nature it migrates long distances to spawn, which cannot practically be copied in an aquarium.
Step by step
Pairing
Needs big ponds and a group of adults. Hormone induction is used on farms.
Breeding tank
Large ponds. Home aquariums are too small.
What starts it
Hormone injection; wet-season cues in the wild.
Eggs and young
Many eggs on farms; hatch in about 1-2 days.
Raising the fry
Start with live zooplankton, then fish pieces. Cannibalism is high, so grade often.
Common mistakes
- Underestimating adult size
- Not grading fry, so they eat each other
- Trying this at home
Male or female
Virtually impossible to sex externally; adult females are probably stockier than males.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- This species is rarely bred in home tanks.
- Hard: for experienced breeders.