Why mussel should not be feed to Congo spotted puffer?

[professorjimjam]

I read this article related to Congo spotted puffers.

i feed them worms and some times mussels which they eat. But I saw this article states I quote

“”This species should not be offered cockles, mussels, clams, oysters or similar mollusks.””

why is that? Anyone know if musselswould be harmful to my puffers?

Spotted Congo Pufferfish Care Sheet

The Tetraodon schoutedeni is a species of freshwater pufferfish, from the Tetraodon genus, which is endemic to Africa’s Congo Basin.

www.pufferfishenthusiastsworldwide.com

 

[kzimmerman]

I think that if they are on the half shell it’s fine, just make sure that you feed freshwater animals mostly, and a little saltwater.

 

[professorjimjam]

I feed them mussels that are without shell. So, I still don’t know if that would impact them health wise.

I hope Fat Homer would know something about this.

 

[Fat Homer]

Thats a first for me? not sure what the reasoning is but would be interested to find out why so i could learn something new

 

[jjohnwm]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all the internet experts actually gave some sort of cursory explanation when they make pronouncements like this? It is all too common, and especially so in "care sheets", which are often written in a very authoritative tone...by people who have kept a single specimen of the fish in question for 3 months and thus consider themselves experts.

When I Googled the author's name, an individual came up who is listed as a
"Professional Piano Specialist - Extreme Hobbyist #pufferfishkeeper #snakekeeper" or in other words...what exactly? Does he buy/sell pianos, build them, play them in concert, move them...maybe keep puffers in them? Why should he be considered an authority on puffers?

My cynic-sense is tingling. Anybody can say anything on the internet. If an individual...who might very well be the ultimate non-professional authority on pufferfish, although he lists no credentials...states something that flies in the face of what is considered common knowledge or practice...there should absolutely be some accompanying explanation. If he offers no such explanation...maybe it's because none exists?
https://www.instagram.com/macauley_sykes/?hl=en

 

[SourAngelfish]

I read this article related to Congo spotted puffers.

i feed them worms and some times mussels which they eat. But I saw this article states I quote

“”This species should not be offered cockles, mussels, clams, oysters or similar mollusks.””

why is that? Anyone know if musselswould be harmful to my puffers?

Spotted Congo Pufferfish Care Sheet

The Tetraodon schoutedeni is a species of freshwater pufferfish, from the Tetraodon genus, which is endemic to Africa’s Congo Basin.

www.pufferfishenthusiastsworldwide.com

I believe the issue lies behind the fact that most cockles/mussels produce/contain thiaminase, which can be harmful in large amounts. I specifically recall being told this when keeping marine predators, and sure it applies across the board. This issue can be avoided by feeding a variety along with vitamin soaking foods (which I find to be beneficial with puffers as is).

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

produce/contain thiaminase

This is eliminated if the cockles/mussels are cooked well enough (eg: precooked). And the cooking doesn't seem to have adverse effects for eels/loaches (the only fish I have heard of being fed cooked mussels), so it may be fine for puffers too.

 

[SourAngelfish]

This is eliminated if the cockles/mussels are cooked well enough (eg: precooked). And the cooking doesn't seem to have adverse effects for eels/loaches (the only fish I have heard of being fed cooked mussels), so it may be fine for puffers too.

I was always under the impression that cooking frozen foods lowered nutritional value. If this isn't the case, this is a great idea.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

It's never been clear to me whether this is the case, as malnutrition hasn't been reported among fish fed lots of those long term. Fishman Dave has a 4 year old tire track eel that eats a large proportion of its diet (possibly even all its diet) from cooked mussels, for example.

Nevertheless, if it is the case, some VitaChem soaking ought to fix it. Though it should be noted that when I asked Dave, he said he uses no vitamin fortification.

 

[jjohnwm]

I believe the issue lies behind the fact that most cockles/mussels produce/contain thiaminase, which can be harmful in large amounts. I specifically recall being told this when keeping marine predators, and sure it applies across the board. This issue can be avoided by feeding a variety along with vitamin soaking foods (which I find to be beneficial with puffers as is).

Ah! Thank you! A possible explanation for his warning that makes good sense, and lends "some" credibility to the comment. I emphasize "some" because, as SourAngelfish states, a food containing thiaminase can be undesirable if it makes up a large percentage of the diet.

But...here's the actual statement:

This species should not be offered cockles, mussels, clams, oysters or similar mollusks.

Now, look at the emphasis: underline the whole thing, and italics on "not". Never, ever offer this stuff.

Sorry, not appropriate. Using these foods as one element of a varied diet would be completely acceptable, especially with vitamin supplementation. A warning regarding the use of these shellfish as a major component of the diet, along with a brief mention of thiaminase and its effects, would have been more useful...if that is indeed, his reason for the warning. As it stands, it seems suspiciously like one of the numerous cautions, warnings and statements that are copied and repeated ad nauseum on the internet without any actual understanding of why/if they are or are not actually true.

When someone makes a proclamation that is entirely untrue, or even questionable without clarification...it tends to throw doubt on anything else they state as fact.