polyodon spathula AKA: PaddleFish

[tigrey]

later on this year i am going to build a 1000- 2000 gallon diy tank. ive been doing some research found a new fish i havent seen before, polyodon spathula aka paddlefish. if someone could give me some information on what size tank they need. also ive read that they are filter feeds so what kinds of food could i feed him? one of the lfs by my house has them 6-7 inches. also what other fish could i keep him with? if someone could help me out here that would be great
thanks MFK>>>

 

[Moontanman]

later on this year i am going to build a 1000- 2000 gallon diy tank. ive been doing some research found a new fish i havent seen before, polyodon spathula aka paddlefish. if someone could give me some information on what size tank they need. also ive read that they are filter feeds so what kinds of food could i feed him? one of the lfs by my house has them 6-7 inches. also what other fish could i keep him with? if someone could help me out here that would be great
thanks MFK>>>

In the wild they get to a maximum of about 5' most will not get that big and aquarium life will probably bring down the maximum size quite a bit. They need lots of open space and a wide instead of tall tank. The ones sold in fish stores come from captive bred stock and are raised on pellets. Something like hikari's micro pellets should be good for them. Cooler temps are best with lots of aeration. A tank of 1000 gallons should be ok to house one for a couple years at least. 12' long by 4' wide and maybe 2 or 3' tall would be a great tank for them.

 

[tigrey]

In the wild they get to a maximum of about 5' most will not get that big and aquarium life will probably bring down the maximum size quite a bit. They need lots of open space and a wide instead of tall tank. The ones sold in fish stores come from captive bred stock and are raised on pellets. Something like hikari's micro pellets should be good for them. Cooler temps are best with lots of aeration. A tank of 1000 gallons should be ok to house one for a couple years at least. 12' long by 4' wide and maybe 2 or 3' tall would be a great tank for them.

ok, i am going to make a really wide tank. what other fish could i keep the paddlefish with? will they try to eat the other fish? could i keep a paddlefish in my tank without a heater?

 

[Moontanman]

ok, i am going to make a really wide tank. what other fish could i keep the paddlefish with? will they try to eat the other fish? could i keep a paddlefish in my tank without a heater?

Paddle fish do not need a heater, they are cool water fish, temps should be kept in the low 70's or below. Most fish will out feed the paddle fish and might starve him a sturgeon would a good tank mate, paddle fish will eat tiny fishes if they can get them but most tank mates should either be slow feeders or feed on something the paddle fish doesn't have compete with them over.

 

[jr monster fish]

Paddle fish do not need a heater

It couldn't hurt to have a small heater set really low, so the temps dont get too cold.

 

[4wheelvfr]

That is definitely one fish that will make a 1000 gallons look like a goldfish bowl.

 

[tigrey]

That is definitely one fish that will make a 1000 gallons look like a goldfish bowl.

how about a 2000 gallon? thats the biggest i can go right now

 

[jr monster fish]

how about a 2000 gallon? thats the biggest i can go right now

Depends on the dimensions. I THINK (havent kept them) 12x7x3.5 would be fine, but im no expert. Also, square edges and this species dont mix.

 

[Moontanman]

It couldn't hurt to have a small heater set really low, so the temps dont get too cold.

How cold can the aquarium get? Frozen solid? unless the aquarium is likely to be below 50 degrees for long periods of time I see no need for a heater.

 

[Moontanman]

how about a 2000 gallon? thats the biggest i can go right now

A 2000 gallon tank should be ok for a few years, it depends on how big the fish really gets. Aquarium life usually stunts the growth of fish some but once it really gets big a pond should be somewhere near by!