Experienced Tig owners, I have a question for you.

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Angler

Angler

Polypterus
MFK Member
May 8, 2007
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I have a 15" Tig in a 260 gallon. I am in the process of selling all the Tig's tankmates so I can start with a new set of tankmates.

I have had the Tig since he was maybe 8", and I have never fed him feeders. My question is what is the smallest size fish I should feel comfortable with putting in with him? Tigs seem more like scavengers than hunters too me, but I have limited experience, and I would hate for him to eat an expensive fish.
 
If it will fit in its mouth it'll eat it. My tig ate my baby rtc ha. Now that's because he was on the bottom with the tig thou. I had a arrow with mine and it was fine and it was far smaller then my rtc. Also he has never ate any of smaller barbs. So in my experience if it's not a easy target and on the bottom with it it'll be ok. It never bothered my ID sharks either and they are upper level and always swimming thou. Now on the bottom it's ok with my rays.
 
Thanks for the input. The particular fish I would add are Armatus, but they will probably be like 4 inches....
 
Angler said:
Thanks for the input. The particular fish I would add are Armatus, but they will probably be like 4 inches....
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The Tig can like all big catfish are hunters. If you should cut the light off on your aquarium and it's dark, I can assure you the 4'' Armatus will be eaten, especially if the Tig has not eaten in a day or enough that day. I had 14in Tig eat a 8in GATF. It was by no means my intention to leave the lights off all night, it was an accident of me forgetting and to no surpirse like all catfish he went on the hunt and ate the GATF. What I was surprised about was as skiddish as GATF are and how quick they are, the Tig was able to catch him..
When I am dealing with large nocturnal predatorys like the tiger shovelnose catfiish, RTC ,Tigs , clown knifes etc, I leave the light off all day and when it gets dark cut them on all night, until i wake up in the morning. Saves you on them praying on smaller fish most of the times. Just so you know, I have two 7in Armatus and would not consider putting them in the tank with my Tig until they are at least 10in or the tank is at least 500 gallons where there is pleanty of space for them to get out of the way.
 
doviiman said:
The Tig can like all big catfish are hunters. If you should cut the light off on your aquarium and it's dark, I can assure you the 4'' Armatus will be eaten, especially if the Tig has not eaten in a day or enough that day. I had 14in Tig eat a 8in GATF. It was by no means my intention to leave the lights off all night, it was an accident of me forgetting and to no surpirse like all catfish he went on the hunt and ate the GATF. What I was surprised about was as skiddish as GATF are and how quick they are, the Tig was able to catch him..
When I am dealing with large nocturnal predatorys like the tiger shovelnose catfiish, RTC ,Tigs , clown knifes etc, I leave the light off all day and when it gets dark cut them on all night, until i wake up in the morning. Saves you on them praying on smaller fish most of the times. Just so you know, I have two 7in Armatus and would not consider putting them in the tank with my Tig until they are at least 10in or the tank is at least 500 gallons where there is pleanty of space for them to get out of the way.
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That is the exact type of answer I was looking for. I am planning on getting a VATF too and figured it would be safer than the Armatus. After reading about your experience, I won't put them in the same tank with the Tig until they get some size on them.
 
Angler said:
That is the exact type of answer I was looking for. I am planning on getting a VATF too and figured it would be safer than the Armatus. After reading about your experience, I won't put them in the same tank with the Tig until they get some size on them.
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Good idea. I have a 13-14 inch tig and he goes after my 7 inch lima shovelnose as well as my 12 inch slobberhead. He shows no aggression with the daylights that I have. As soon as I turn the lights off or just have a moonlight on he starts cruising.
 
cpr_mike said:
Good idea. I have a 13-14 inch tig and he goes after my 7 inch lima shovelnose as well as my 12 inch slobberhead. He shows no aggression with the daylights that I have. As soon as I turn the lights off or just have a moonlight on he starts cruising.
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As an alternative idea I keep a small night light on so my VATF has enough light to see if my rays try to catch him......So far so good.
 
to tell the truth tigs are crap hunters and only hunt at night
it all depends on the fish small clown loach maybe ok on the bottom so might polys

mid and top water fish should be ok to

i wouldnt put anything below 8 inch

it all depends on the shape of the fish to
 
Angler said:
That is the exact type of answer I was looking for. I am planning on getting a VATF too and figured it would be safer than the Armatus. After reading about your experience, I won't put them in the same tank with the Tig until they get some size on them.
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I love people who post stuff "looking" for an answer. You seem to have known the answer and are one of those ppl that look for the answer that they want to hear and agree's with what they already know.....
Any way good luck.
 
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