Got my Greater Siren!

[jewbo]

The only problem i have found with grocery store fish is that they are high in iodine. Iodine actually causes them to morph which they never survive. I'm guessing peacock bass are out of the question with co habitating with my siren so ill have to take my little peacock out of the tank.

What about crayfish i have like 5 of them in the tank, could they pose a threat to my siren?

I actually just gave my sirens a couple of hiding spots to reduce their stress level so they'll be more likely to eat. Im also starting to see beginning signs of regeneration with the big siren, which is amazing!

Thanks Noto for the list of fish i really appreciate your help and everyone else too.

 

[vitaly]

if they crayfish are large, they might nip them.

here are the ones i had.

 

[Noto]

Sirens will eat small or moulting crayfish. Any crayfish that the sirens don't eat are a potential threat to them. Keep them separate.

The iodine issue you describe does not apply to sirens. Iodine is a component of various thyroid hormones, which are used to trigger metamorphosis in amphibians. Some salamanders delay or avoid metamorphosis by reducing their iodine uptake, but this can be overcome by excess iodine (or various other factors) in their diet or environment, forcing them to metamorphose after all. These species are called facultative paedomorphs. Some, like axolotls and Tennessee cave salamanders, almost never metamorphose in nature and may fare poorly if they do, while others, like tiger salamanders and eastern newts, usually metamorphose and are only occasionally paedomorphic.

Sirens, however, are obligate paedomorphs. They no longer have the physiological pathways to metamorphose, no matter how much iodine they absorb. Other obligate paedomorphs include mudpuppies, waterdogs, and olms (Family Proteidae), hellbenders and Asian giant salamanders (Family Cryptobranchidae), and amphiumas (Family Amphiumidae).

 

[jewbo]

So if I understand you correctly your saying that Sirens choose if they want to morph and that Iodine has nothing to do with it?

The person i got the sirens from told me that Iodine can make them metamorphose and that they will die. This isn't true?

And just a random question, can you own a asian giant salamander? and where can you get one?
Its not for me, its just my older brother wants to get one for his store and I want to know if its a possibility.

 

[vitaly]

sirens never metamophose. they stay neotanous permanently. i am not sure about adding iodine. but why would anyone do it?

 

[snakefin]

No, he means Sirens will never morph, even if they want to. Then again, give it several millenia of evolution and that starts a different story. Your iodine concerns are actually usually associated with axolotls, who morph into mexican salamanders, who just die rather quickly.