Tigrinus behavior

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Comanswoodwork

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jan 17, 2012
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Ok so I bought a tigrinus to live in the tank with my shovelnose cats I got. It's a bit smaller so I was concerned it may become a pricy late night snack but I think it's ok so far. Question I've got is what to expect as far as behavior. It swam around all night last night. Today it just hung out in one of the big caves in the tank but when the lights went off it started doing sprints across the tank. It's been going back and forth all night like this. Normal? Don't think it ate anything yet either but it's only been in the tank a little over 24 hrs.
 
Most importantly is its not swimming vertically (they do that when stressed)

Feed sparingly coz they have sensitive guts. Expect growth 6" to 14" within a year.

Mine reached 2' in 2plus years
 
It's not swimming vertically. Just horizontally really fast back and forth. It's daytime now and it's chilling with my tsn in one of the caves now. The store said they were eating sinking pellets.
 
Sounds more or less normal for a tig adjusting to a new home.

I fed mine prawns stuffed with carnivore pellets.

OP, it may pay off to be aware of other people's experiences. Nothing wrong with Weirdfishlover's experience (BTW is it weird fishlover or weirdfish lover? ;) ). I have been feeding my tig marine bait fish. But others, most prominently T1KARMAN swear by NOT feeding sea foods to a tig, e.g., per these:

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/help-with-tig-catfish.598702/

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/bloated-tig.648494/

... albeit I still think it's got to do something with crustaceans, not sea foods in general. Just a thought of mine.
 
So the tig has been in the tank a few days now and it seems the tsn are doing their best to steer clear of the little guy. I tried putting small pieces of tilapia and sinking carnivore pellets in the cave he's sitting in but the tsn waited til he turned his back to sneak in and eat the tilapia and back out real quick. It was kinda funny to watch. I think he ate some frozen bloodworms yesterday but I would feel better if I actually saw him eat something.
 
Tigs are usually aggressive. It waxes and wanes but if other fish, especially bottom dwellers and especially other Pims have tattered fins, a tig would usually be intact and is the offender.
 
You're asking for trouble trying to comm TSN and tigrinus, IMO
I must agree. Tig will bug and bite them. They may try to eat him, sooner or later.
 
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