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- Thread starter oneyedfish
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Then why the lack of growth recently? He should still be growing like a weed at this point right?
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Just as they grow in spurts, they rest in between.
It could be the tank. What's your water change schedule? What's his diet?
Finally, he could have drawn the short straw in the highly polluted gene pool, especially if this mouth deformity is in-born. We get a lot of second and third and father lower grade fish in the ornamental hobby, deformed, mutants, dwarfs, etc., the runts of the litter because everyone wants to sell them as cheaply as possible to beat out the competition and we keep buying them, so the circle is complete.
Still, I'd be thrilled for you and all of us if he turned out a rare (in the trade) species of TSN (I think this is very highly unlikely but possible) but I don't think I'd qualify to tell the difference between all the 9 currently described species, except maybe for corruscans, reticulatum, and possibly punctifer.
It could be the tank. What's your water change schedule? What's his diet?
Finally, he could have drawn the short straw in the highly polluted gene pool, especially if this mouth deformity is in-born. We get a lot of second and third and father lower grade fish in the ornamental hobby, deformed, mutants, dwarfs, etc., the runts of the litter because everyone wants to sell them as cheaply as possible to beat out the competition and we keep buying them, so the circle is complete.
Still, I'd be thrilled for you and all of us if he turned out a rare (in the trade) species of TSN (I think this is very highly unlikely but possible) but I don't think I'd qualify to tell the difference between all the 9 currently described species, except maybe for corruscans, reticulatum, and possibly punctifer.
The mouth appears to be very small in relation to the fish. I'm curious whether that's a limiting factor in his growth. Is he able to "yawn?" Is there any way you could get a photo from above?
Thanks for all the input guys. As far as water changes, I'm currently doing 25-30% weekly. Current routine keeps my nitrates in the 15-20 PPM range. For feeding, I'm target feeding him massivore twice a week, and market prawns about once a week. When he's quick enough, he also grabs the occasional NLS pellet before the other fish get to it. Seems to be eager to eat, no loss in appetite.
He appears to have no issue opening his mouth. The last time I saw him yawn, I coulda stuck 3 fingers in his mouth. Kinda caught me off guard how big it actually was. But this is the only TSN I've ever had experience with, so it's mouth may be smaller than usual? The ducklips have been present since I bought him as a juvi.
As for an above shot, I'll see what I can do. Thanks again for all the help.
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He appears to have no issue opening his mouth. The last time I saw him yawn, I coulda stuck 3 fingers in his mouth. Kinda caught me off guard how big it actually was. But this is the only TSN I've ever had experience with, so it's mouth may be smaller than usual? The ducklips have been present since I bought him as a juvi.
As for an above shot, I'll see what I can do. Thanks again for all the help.
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Terrible pic, I'll try for a better one during the WC today.
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What's the tank size and dimensions? Does he have enough swimming and exercise room?
NO3 sounds ok. If you are up for experimentation, I'd double the water change, either frequency or the amount (all my fish enjoy 50%-90% water change), long term, and see if it makes a difference in a few months time.
The diet sounds good too. The thiaminase in the prawns is balanced out by the quality pellets you give him. Again, to learn if the diet can be a factor, something needs to be changed, experimented with. I'd add more fleshy foods lacking the thiaminase, e.g., fish pieces or rather whole fishes that he can swallow whole.
NO3 sounds ok. If you are up for experimentation, I'd double the water change, either frequency or the amount (all my fish enjoy 50%-90% water change), long term, and see if it makes a difference in a few months time.
The diet sounds good too. The thiaminase in the prawns is balanced out by the quality pellets you give him. Again, to learn if the diet can be a factor, something needs to be changed, experimented with. I'd add more fleshy foods lacking the thiaminase, e.g., fish pieces or rather whole fishes that he can swallow whole.
He's currently in a 180. I know he's going to need a bigger home soon (honestly, now) if I'm just in a slow period of his growth. I wouldn't feel comfortable in keeping him in the 180 if he gets any bigger. Original plan was to have an indoor pond up and running by this time, but as often happens, life got in the way. Forgot to add he does also get fed tilapia pieces (gets alternated with the prawns). Looks like I may need to re-home him as larger accommodations aren't possible in the near future.
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Well, punctifer is out too
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=39235#p267940 here is a molecular study that concludes that what used to be called Pseudoplatystoma punctifer consists of several (sub)species and that only in Peru alone...