Tigrinus with 5 smaller Paddlefish tankmate

[thebiggerthebetter]

All-crustacean (100%) or mostly-crustacean (50%+) or alot-of-crustacean (say 25%+) diet for an animal, which in the wild is not a crustacean specialist, that is doesn't feed mostly or exclusively on crustaceans, like shrimp, will eventually result in vitamin B1 deficiency, sooner or later, withering, and death.

There is a good article on thiaminase and related issues on MFK (section Diseases). A general web search should provide plenty to read and learn about.

Tigs and crustaceans is a separate and different topic, with roughly half the keepers swearing they lost their tigs due to feeding them crustaceans with the other half saying they see no problem with feeding their tigs the same type feeds.

Tigs can be trained to take pellets with some patience and perseverance. Some keepers resort to stuffing pellets into frozen-thawed cuisine, like fish, or presoaking the thawed out feeds in VitaChem supplement.

I'm guessing you could presoak shrimp in specifically Vitamin B1 solution before feeding and see if it works for you.

Just my little experience and thoughts. I am not all knowing. In the past half a year I've lost 6 adult tigs out of 9 but to an unidentified illness or perhaps poor care on my part (I have been trying to force them to live together for the last 5-6 years).

HTH.

 

[Cowturtle]

While were talking about paddlefish check this video out a friend of mine sent me hand feeding one of his paddlefish tilapia.

 

[Damascus]

Wow! Paddlefish I’ve not heard of anyone keeping it yet. Quite rare how did you get them?

Very hard to find. Sources are not usually disclosed for this sort of fish, but I have seen them in the states for sale twice.

 

[FJB]

Those paddles look BIG!!! Very cool!

 

[The Masked Shadow]

I thought it was a nickname for another fish, but real paddlefish!? Those things get, like, 5 feet! Aren't they endangered or vulnerable?

Paddlefish

**NOW TAKING ORDERS FOR FALL 2022** PADDLEFISH (Polyodon spathula) IDENTIFICATION: A scaleless fish with a cartilage skeleton, a very large mouth and a long, paddle shaped rostrum that is often 1/3 of their total length. This highly developed sensory organ helps these filter feeders locate food...

jonesfish.com

 

[Goban]

thebiggerthebetter thanks for the detailed explanation . If it is bad for tig i assume Piraiba and RTC also shouldnt be fed those since they originally come from more or less same localities?
But from my research , Piraiba and RTCs do eat crustaceans in the wild. What do you think?
Anyway i have seen your tig in your YouTube vids , they look huge and healthy . you are my motivation.

Now i am considering to train all my cats to eat pellets instead or just go fully feed them with Pangasius fillet.

For the Paddlefish tank i will add 2 Beluga Sturgeon since they require similar water parameter and i will make a Journal Thread for them per requested.

Caveden it comes in once in a while to Indonesia although i am not sure about which country they got it from.
The Masked Shadow Yes they get huge up to 7 ft+ but it will take at least 10 yrs. Not too sure , no expert in this but they have been farmed for caviar.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Thank you.

Cool video in my native language

Different fish in the same locality can and do specialize in their own food items or prey. In other words locality doesn't determine diet, the biology does. Tigs are bottom stealth predators. Piraiba are active pursuit open water predators. RTC are opportunists, omnivores.

My baseless hypothesis for tigs+crustaceans problem is that some tigs can be allergic to shellfish / crustaceans, kind of like humans and other organisms. I can't explain otherwise why some tigs are fine with consuming crustaceans even in large amount like 25%-75% of the diet in captivity, while others die from a single crustacean meal.

Another thing is wild fish versus captive fish. Not everything wild fish can afford and survive can be translated into captivity. Perhaps most or almost all things can, but not everything. For example, wild fish immune system is stronger.

Fillets are devoid of essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements and must be supplemented, again with high quality pellets (pressed into the fillets if a fish refuses to eat them out right) or VitaChem presoak... or a wild and impractical diversification of feed, like worms, insects, whole fresh fish (not been frozen for too long to preserve most nutrients), crustaceans, plant matter (e.g. gut loaded plant eating fish, frozen for a proper but short time to kill off parasites), etc.