Tiger Shovel-nosed

[RBarker]

About a year and a half ago we bought a 3" TSN. Today he is nearly 16". He is housed in a 75g with an Oscar. When we bought him we were told he wouldn't get over 9" and would get the stuff off the bottom.

I am having a hard time finding good information about them. I found that he will grow to be 4'(I think). The site I found said to feed him hot dogs. I have heard feeder fish aren't the best food for them. Right now he is eating a mix of freeze dried krill and jumbo Cichlid sticks with the occasional feeder goldfish.

I was wondering what everyone feeds theirs. Also is that a normal growth rate? What size tank will he need full grown? Or would a pond be more appropriate?

As soon as I find my camera I will get updated pics as these were a while ago.

 

[polish]

It will get 4ft in a proper environment. Add a 0 to the end of your tank and it would be ideal. Many keep them in smaller tanks but more or less it's about time for an upgrade. The bigger you go the longer it will keep him. A nice size that would hold him for a while would be 6x3x2 or 8x3x2. Many also do small ponds.

Big filtration is also key.

Many stick with market fish, shrimp and such to keep costs low as they are big eaters.

 

[impresariozer0]

About a year and a half ago we bought a 3" TSN. Today he is nearly 16".

I was just curious about the growth of these guys too, as my LFS has a couple of them for like 17 bucks, and I thought I may pick one or both up.

the reason I quoted the portion that I did was..... a year and a half to grow about a foot?
Seems like a long time per foot if he will max out at 4 feet.

 

[liberator177]

I was just curious about the growth of these guys too, as my LFS has a couple of them for like 17 bucks, and I thought I may pick one or both up.

the reason I quoted the portion that I did was..... a year and a half to grow about a foot?
Seems like a long time per foot if he will max out at 4 feet.

My tiger shovel nose grew from around 4 inchs to abount 10 inches in a little over month.

 

[Dan F]

I feed mine Hikari sinking wafers and Massivore pellets. I also feed a lot of earthworms. Hot-dogs would be a VERY bad choice to feed your fish.

 

[Dovii dude]

I love those cats!!!

 

[basslover34]

I feed mine Hikari sinking wafers and Massivore pellets. I also feed a lot of earthworms. Hot-dogs would be a VERY bad choice to feed your fish.

Tell Necrocanis's 4'er that hot-dogs are a bad choice and it will prob rip your arm off in anger LOL... Hotdogs arn't going to help your fish but they won't hurt it either... it's a good filler food only and is in no way healthy for it as there is almost no nurtritional value in them and quite frankly I'm surprised that we as humans with standard eat them... mmmmmm Chilli Dogs....

ANYWAY Back on topic, As mentioned not something to give as a staple food but you could get away with it from time to time

 

[Dan F]

I feed mine Hikari sinking wafers and Massivore pellets. I also feed a lot of earthworms. Hot-dogs would be a VERY bad choice to feed your fish.

What I really should have said is "Hot-dogs would be a VERY bad choice to feed anything".

I guess they aren't much worse for a fish than they are for us. The main problem I see is all the salt and nitrates. Chunks of raw pork or beef would be a much better alternative to cured meats.