Thiaminase in shellfish anyone have a good list?

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cephalofoil

Candiru
MFK Member
Sep 17, 2013
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I got a free "seafood medley" bag when I was buying groceries and was wondering about thiaminase.

It came with octopus, squid, cooked mussel (most likely green mussel) and cooked shrimp.

I'm worried about the mussel and shrimp, I can just eat those myself if they're a no go.

I also saw a flat of frozen shrimp. It said green tiger shrimp but had the scientific name Macrobrachium lanchesteri on it. Did some googling and I see that shrimp in the genus Penaeus have thiaminase, but they list green tiger shrimp as being in that genus. I'm at a loss here.

Any insight would be awesome thanks everyone


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Macrobrachium sp. are also marketed as green tiger shrimp (Normally sold as blue long-arm or nile shrimp). Both shrimp species contain thiaminase. Mussels and clams containing thiaminase do not produce the enzyme themselves. The thiaminase is produced by bacteria living in those bivalve species.
 
No point in giving cooked food to your fish...
 
You're correct. Thiaminase breaks down rapidly when heated. Also, thiaminase doesn't stay in the body for long. Offering foods (like yellowfin tuna) containing vitamin B1, or supplements of vitamin B1 mixed into prepared foods, will counter the effects of thiaminase.
 
Hmm guess I'll just feed the squid and octopus along with tilapia to my piranha. Mussels and shrimp will be mine haha. Are there any good vitamin b1 supplements?

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B1 is found mainly in vegetables and grains. When I said supplement I meant a bottle of Vitamin B1 capsules from the supplement display in any pharmacy. A number of prepared (flake, pellets, sticks, etc) manufacturers add vit B1 supplement to their prepared foods.
Any keeper that feeds thiaminase-containing foods needs to provide B1 in one form or another since B1 is needed for proper neural and brain health. Fish can develop tics, shakes, etc up to whirling disease and death if deprived of B1 for an extended period.
 
I quit worrying about thiasimine. Feeding a balanced diet you shouldn't have any problems. All of the studies I have read only indicate problems with fish that are feeding 100% (or nearly) on thiasimine heavy foods. I think most everyone in the hobby feeds at least some variatey. I am aware of some people that feed 100% shrimp diets and have no known ill effects.
 
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