I have read several references to Brachyplatystoma tigrinum requiring "huge" flow rates in their aquariums, however, none of these publications expanded upon what they perceived to be "huge". I have a 13.5" tigrinum and the turnover of the tank from the two hunge filters is 9X plus per hour, but I was thinking of adding a current pump, but would like to get feedback to establish a benchmark for what size. I don't think it is viable to replicate the Teotonio Cataracts in an aquarium! What do you other tigrinum owners think? Also, what perecentage of the time do your fish spend "swimming" vertically with an almost static head and tail swishing back and forth?
TIGRINUM CURRENT / FLOW?
- Thread starter Mentzer
- Start date
Fast currents are appreciated, but not a "requirement".
These are very laid back fish, so they just sit on their asses all day anyway.
Swimming vertically against the glass is quite normal, but no one really knows why tigrinus displays this behavior. Many attribute it to stress factors.
These are very laid back fish, so they just sit on their asses all day anyway.
Swimming vertically against the glass is quite normal, but no one really knows why tigrinus displays this behavior. Many attribute it to stress factors.
I would have to agree with M/L, tigrinus do not require high current. They are very laid back. The only time I see them being active is when they smell food. Or when the lights are out and even then It's for a few minutes then they settle to the bottom. You should be fine with the 9x filtration. Mine is only 5X and he is about 20".
On the topic of swimming vertically I would attribute that to stress. The only time I've seen that in my tigrinus is when there is a more aggressive fish in the tank. When I had 3 in one tank, only the weakess show this behaviour, and the other 2 would be at opposite ends. Perhaps if I had more or a larger tank this would have been different.
On the topic of swimming vertically I would attribute that to stress. The only time I've seen that in my tigrinus is when there is a more aggressive fish in the tank. When I had 3 in one tank, only the weakess show this behaviour, and the other 2 would be at opposite ends. Perhaps if I had more or a larger tank this would have been different.
I like to put a current around the outer edges of the tank so that the fish can swim in the current if it likes or go to the middle in the dead space and rest for a while. In my pond the current goes counter clockwise, and every now and then my large rtc x tsn will swim circles through the current, and then go for a rest in the center where the water is still! I would suggest nothing too strong and try to have dead spaces, because even in the wild this large fish will not swim constantly, and will require some calm water to rest in. Putting large rocks or driftwood as a current break should give him a nice place to hide and rest for a while. I would say one power head rotating your current with the filtration should do fine, but it is not really needed. As state by M/L it is a lazy fish when larger and would not require a strong current! They swim mostly at night anyway!
I would agree with the fish doing this when stressed. I had a young Tig once (3-4") that would swim like this for hours every night when all the lights were out. This Tig was eventually killed by an ornate bichir.
The Tig I have now which I got @ 10" and is currently about 14" never does the vertical swimming. Mine seems to be happy with the flow in my tank which is not terribly high and actually I would like to be higher.
The Tig I have now which I got @ 10" and is currently about 14" never does the vertical swimming. Mine seems to be happy with the flow in my tank which is not terribly high and actually I would like to be higher.
In my opinion the thing that is important for this fish is high levels of disolved O2. The more surface movement that you have the more disolved O2 there will be. I have never really seen any of my tigrinus "swimming" in the current more often they will sit facing into the current where they wait for something to pass by for them to eat.
Yes a tigrinus swimming up the side of the tank for long periods of time is not normal behavior. It usually indicates that somthing is wrong. Alot of times tigs will do this when there is no cover for them (a bare tank) or when the water quality is off.
I dont think adding more current would hurt anything...i would go for it!
I dont think adding more current would hurt anything...i would go for it!