The "Tiger Shovelnose" is an out-and-out predator, so it should not be kept with any fish that is smaller than itself and it also should  be housed in a very large tank. The best companions would probably be large Pacu's or similar sized fish that would not be swallowed.

Its tank should have a shaded area at the
 back such as a large branch and plants to
 hide under as it is nocturnal, and also the
 lighting should not be too bright.
 In my opinion this wonderful looking Pim
 should only be kept in Public Aquariums 
 as it can damage its large nose if kept in
 too confined an area, it can get jumpy too if feels its barbels on the tank sides as it turns around. It can also go of its food as well, if it is anyway disturbed and unhappy.

This picture depicts a Tiger
 Shovelnose kept successfully by
 a German aquarist with a shoal
 of Red-bellied Piranha's.

There has been a small influx to the hobby of a crossed version of this fish and a close relation Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum with the Red Tailed Catfish 
( Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) which were primarily hormone bred for the food market in South America but some found there way into the
aquatic hobby. There were also hybrids between the Red Tailed Catfish and the Tiger Fish Merodontotus tigrinus and a few other large Pimelodid crosses along the way. My view is that these large fish have an imposing beauty all of their own without us having to inbreed them into any mongrel varieties.

Picture depicts a crossed variety which may be Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
x Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum or Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum x  Phractocephalus hemioliopterus or
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus x
Merodontotus tigrinus .

In saying all this there has been aquarists who have successfully kept 
Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum over the years but weighed against this is the number of Tiger Shovelnoses that have succumbed in aquarists tanks due to inexperience and neglect. So please only keep this fish if you can give it 100% commitment.

I have to confess that I have tasted this species on the plate on my fish collecting trip to Peru in July 2000. The local name for this fish in Iquitos is Dorado and it is delicious.!

Acknowledgements :
Thanks to Chis Olson for picture of Pimelodidae hybrid.
Thanks to Oliver Beckstedde for his fasciatum/piranha picture.

Family: Pimelodidae.

Sub-Family: Sorubiminae.

Common Name: Tiger Shovelnose.

Synonym: Platystoma fasciatum, Platystoma punctifer, Platystoma truncatum,
Pseudoplatystoma punctifer, Silurus fasciatus.

Country of Origin: Paraguay. 
                                 Venezuela.
                                 Peru.
                                 Surinam.

Size: 90cm ( 36ins)

Temp : 24-28c (75-83f )

pH.: 6.5.-8.0

Breeding : Not known but females tend to be fuller and heavier than the males

Feeding : In the wild they eat other fish such as characins and other catfish, they also eat freshwater crabs. In the aquarium a diet of earthworms, freshwater fish such as trout and also shrimp and prawns. You should only feed when it starts looking actively for it, as they will rest for a few days after feeding to digest their food.

References: Sands, David. Back to Nature Guide to Catfishes, 1997.
                     Baench. Aquarium Atlas 1, 1987.

Photo Credit(s): Top picture
                            Middle picture www.ahnarip.de
                             Bottom picture  Chris Olson.