Tiger Shovelnose

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RealCrix220

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jan 22, 2017
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Really wanted something to clean up behind my Asian Arowana and I’ve always live the tiger shovel nose catfish. I was sold one when I first started out in the hobby and wasn't told what it actually was and when my cichlids started going missing I did some research.

Anyway been trying to find them and I finally come across a breeder but they are only 7/8 cm

It’s been sold as a Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum

I don’t know the different types

I’d like to get him to a decent size just so he has that little bit more protection

Anyone know what will bulk him up a bit quicker

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Its definetely not a tigrinum. Most likely RTC x TSN.

If you want him to grow fast try "whole foods" like whole small fish as the organs contain many vitamins and not just protein. Earthworms are also a great recommendation if you have them available.
 
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Its definetely not a tigrinum. Most likely RTC x TSN.

If you want him to grow fast try "whole foods" like whole small fish as the organs contain many vitamins and not just protein. Earthworms are also a great recommendation if you have them available.
Well that’s annoying haha that’s the problem we have here in the UK these so called breeders / importers don’t know what they are buying.

Red tail cross tiger is called a leopard shovel nose ( that’s what’s it’s called here )

Ansorgii Ansorgii
What makes you sure it’s not a tigrinum ( I’d like to learn )
 
The shape of the mouth gives it away as a RTC cross. A tigers mouth is more elongated and flat.

Not my picture thank Google
images-4.jpeg

Your guy has the mouth of a RTC

Again not my picture thank Google
images-5.jpeg
 
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Sellers and accountability often exist only in different dimensions, at least in germany. The Amount of **** I have been sold and told is unbelieveable, and many sell fish half the size of what they say that never saw any quarantine that can and will wipe your tank. I get that you can misidentify something like a wild caught cichla, but selling Arowana that still have their Yolk sac as 15-20cm and then just claiming "its what the importer said" is just blatant Fraud. And you'd be suprised how many have no idea/understanding about fish in general... I could write a book about all the **** I experienced. An important note: "eat all offered foods" is seller jargon for "has yet to eat anything" or "I dont enen know"

Unless I really trust them I always buy in person and not online.

And as to why its not a Tigrinum, the head and fin shapes aswell as the colours are off, they should be more pointy. If you look at pictures you can see a clear difference.

But they hybrids arent to bad, they can be quite handsome and grow really fast.

Just be aware that all pred cats like that will be absolut vacuums and once they are more confident will compete directly with your aro for food. In my Zoo they stopped taking in RTCs and got rid of the ones they had as they pushed away the caimans to steal their food.

On a positive note, a Stingray breeder I knew once had a huge hybrid, very beautiful, that was a peaceful giant. I hope yours will do well!
 
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Sellers and accountability often exist only in different dimensions, at least in germany. The Amount of **** I have been sold and told is unbelieveable, and many sell fish half the size of what they say that never saw any quarantine that can and will wipe your tank. I get that you can misidentify something like a wild caught cichla, but selling Arowana that still have their Yolk sac as 15-20cm and then just claiming "its what the importer said" is just blatant Fraud. And you'd be suprised how many have no idea/understanding about fish in general... I could write a book about all the **** I experienced. An important note: "eat all offered foods" is seller jargon for "has yet to eat anything" or "I dont enen know"

Unless I really trust them I always buy in person and not online.

And as to why its not a Tigrinum, the head and fin shapes aswell as the colours are off, they should be more pointy. If you look at pictures you can see a clear difference.

But they hybrids arent to bad, they can be quite handsome and grow really fast.

Just be aware that all pred cats like that will be absolut vacuums and once they are more confident will compete directly with your aro for food. In my Zoo they stopped taking in RTCs and got rid of the ones they had as they pushed away the caimans to steal their food.

On a positive note, a Stingray breeder I knew once had a huge hybrid, very beautiful, that was a peaceful giant. I hope yours will do well!
Thank you so much for the info, my intention was to only keep him until he reached 2 foot anyway and then move him into a friend who has a large pond type set up but I had my heart set on a tiger but as you say let’s just hope he turns out looking good
 
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