Merodontotus Tigrinus - Questions

Stevetd · Post by **Stevetd** » 23 Mar 2004, 13:24

Hello All - I'm new to this board but have been reading for a while.

I'm researching into buying a Merodontotus Tigrinus, but over here (UK) they cost a fortune so I have to be 100% satisfied before I buy one. The main question is over size. It is easy to quote sizes from well known books, publications etc - but to those that have actually kept the fish, what is the average size, and also what is the maximum sie in captivity. I have an 8 x 2 x 2 tank.
I also need to know their compatibility with other catfish. I also have/(will be getting shortly) a Hemisorubim Plat., Sorubim Limas, G.Gibbiceps, Royal Panaque, Ornate Pims, spotted gars and a Silver Arowana.

As an alternative I have also looked at Brachypl.Juruense. Again I have seen 24 inches quoted as an average size but never seen one this big. (Biggest I have seen is 18 inches)

Can anyone clarify the above.

Cheers

Steve

P.S Not sure who's responsible - but congratulations on a fantastic web-site!

Caol_ila · Post by **Caol_ila** » 23 Mar 2004, 14:13

Hi!

Is that 8x2x2 meters? Otherwise it allready sounds well stocked considering the 1 meter Arowana, >40 cm Gibbi, Panaque and Sorubims

Stevetd · Post by **Stevetd** » 23 Mar 2004, 14:17

Hi there,

8x2x2 feet ! (metres - I wish!!) The Silver arowana is likely to average out between 22 and 30 inches. The gibbiceps at 14 - 16 inch, and the sorubims at about 12 inches. The royal panaque is a bit small at around 8 inches average size in captivity.

Thanks for your comments though, it is something that has crossed my mind already to be honest.

Cheers

Steve

Caol_ila · Post by **Caol_ila** » 23 Mar 2004, 14:21

Hi!

its just a thing that you wake up from too late. Ive had the same "problem" you pick up fish you like and suddenly you realize that its too much. And a nice shoal of S.limas would still be one of my favourites.
But i think i remember they sold a tigrinus here around 40 cm for 700 euros last year.

coelacanth · Post by **coelacanth** » 23 Mar 2004, 15:02

Stevetd wrote:The main question is over size. It is easy to quote sizes from well known books, publications etc - but to those that have actually kept the fish, what is the average size, and also what is the maximum size in captivity.

Hi Steve, welcome to the PC Forum.
Well, you should always cater for the maximum potential size, and I believe that you should take the shortest horizontal dimension of the aquarium to be the potential body length + 50% of the largest-growing fish (so for instance, a fish that potentially grows to 2ft should have an aquarium with the shortest horizontal measurement at 3ft). The longest horizontal dimension should ideally be several times the potential length of the largest fish. So I'm afraid that really rules out either species IMO. I'd also take a serious look at the Arowana, these need even larger accomodation (I have 1000 gallon aquaria to play with and I don't think even these are quite large enough for Osteoglossum).

Stevetd wrote:I also need to know their compatibility with other catfish. I also have/(will be getting shortly) a Hemisorubim Plat., Sorubim Limas, G.Gibbiceps, Royal Panaque, Ornate Pims, spotted gars

Sounds like a great aquarium. Are the Spotted Gars the true Gars or the Spotted Gar Characin?Instead of the Arowana you could look at some of the medium-sized Characoids (active and silvery so they give the same 'effect'), and perhaps increase the number of Ornate Pims so you can obesrve social behaviour? I also think the weird Platystomatichthys is a very under-rated fish, they are so odd-looking, but to tbe honest it might just be better to enjoy the fish you already have with the knowledge they have enough room to meet their potential.

Stevetd · Post by **Stevetd** » 23 Mar 2004, 15:13

Hi there,

Thanks for your comments!
I already have the Arowana, and he's about 8 inches at the moment. They are very flexible fish so I opted to give them more swimming room lengthways rather than widthways (as I had been contemplating a 7 x 2.5ft wide). THey are one fish who's maximum size has been wildly over-quoted in captivity, even their size in the wild has been exaggerated greatly. I appreciate your comments ref: catering for maximum sizes - If he does turn out to be a giant, I would consider parting with the fish. However, in my experience they rarely top 30 inches in captivity. 22 - 30 would probably be an average. Yes, they are true spotted gars and are growing REALLY fast. They are not as flexible due to their ganoid scales but should not reach more than 16 - 18 inches. I therefore bought them on that basis. The 2 Limas, 2 Ornate Pims, 2 Plecs and 1 porthole shovelnose are already bought. IMO I don't think this is overstocked. I 'm not sure whether the Tig or Juruense will push this over the edge though. Out of curiosity which is the biggest species?

I am very vigilante over water quality and spend most of my spare time on the tank!

Cheers

Steve

coelacanth · Post by **coelacanth** » 23 Mar 2004, 17:05

Stevetd wrote:They are one fish who's maximum size has been wildly over-quoted in captivity, even their size in the wild has been exaggerated greatly

Every one I've had here before I realised they didn't have enough space topped 30" with ease, and at that size they looked a bit cramped to me a a 10ft by 4ft aquarium. When they are forced to turn more often than is ideal they do appear to be susceptible to deformed opercula (although this may have other causes).

Stevetd wrote:Out of curiosity which is the biggest species?

Brachyplatystoma are certainly the bulkier of the two.

Stevetd · Post by **Stevetd** » 23 Mar 2004, 17:18

Hello Again,

The Platystomatichthys is a fish I know very little about. I have seen a few images of them. Would you have any more info on them i.e. average and max sizes etc? The 'shovelnose' fish tend to have the same basic requirements so I assume this fish follows those too?
I have seen conflicting advice on whether the Hemisorubim Plat. fares better in a small shoal. Mine is kept singly at the moment, and is feeding/growing voraciously, and has settled in very well. If I put him in a small shoal, I would assume this would make him slightly more active and likely to put in more of an appearance. However, they are v.expensive, so if he is happy singly, and buying morethan one would not increase his activity levels I might not bother. They are a very under-rated fish, yet as they are so expensive - and tiger-shovelnoses', rtc's (and more recently I've seen loads of RTCxTSN hybrids) are quite cheap - its easy to see why there are problems with these issues? It's a vicious circle really. I haven't made up my made as to who's at fault?

Cheers

Steve

katfishguy · Post by **katfishguy** » 23 Mar 2004, 20:18

the tigrinus has the potential of getting a little over 3 feet. I have several tigrinus that are 20"+,, and my biggest tigrinus is 26".

here are some pics of some of my tigrinus:

they will be part of a tigrinus breeding project that I am planning to undertake in the near future.

Suckermouth · Post by **Suckermouth** » 24 Mar 2004, 02:19

katfishguy, I have always been curious... Where do you keep all of those fish? I would kill to have the space and money to even consider an M. tigrinus breeding project!

Fishedin · Post by **Fishedin** » 24 Mar 2004, 10:43

Ditto,

Awesome fish.

katfishguy · Post by **katfishguy** » 28 Mar 2004, 17:23

Suckermouth wrote:katfishguy, I have always been curious... Where do you keep all of those fish? I would kill to have the space and money to even consider an M. tigrinus breeding project!

if you are ever in South Florida, you can come down and see my fish and I will explain how I do it

Beersnob · Post by **Beersnob** » 29 Mar 2004, 02:24

coelacanth wrote:
Stevetd wrote:Well, you should always cater for the maximum potential size, and I believe that you should take the shortest horizontal dimension of the aquarium to be the potential body length + 50% of the largest-growing fish (so for instance, a fish that potentially grows to 2ft should have an aquarium with the shortest horizontal measurement at 3ft).

Just curious, does this mean that a Lima Shovelnose is too large or too small in your opinion for a 50 gallon tank? (About 4' long)

Thanks,

Scott

coelacanth · Post by **coelacanth** » 30 Mar 2004, 12:51

Beersnob wrote:Just curious, does this mean that a Lima Shovelnose is too large or too small in your opinion for a 50 gallon tank? (About 4' long)

My personal opinion is that a Sorubim up to 12" long would be OK in an adequately filtered aquarium 4' by 18" by 18", which is just about the 50 gallon mark, but it would be advisable (and nicer) to go to 5' by 24" by 24"(as you could then have an interesting mix of other medium-sized fish). The reason I think you can get away with the 4' length for Sorubim is that they are not quite as much of an active nocturnal cruiser as are some of the other larger Pims, and they could be catered for with some well positioned branches and bogwood.

Merodontotus Tigrinus - Questions

Merodontotus Tigrinus - Questions

Re: Merodontotus Tigrinus - Questions

Re: Merodontotus Tigrinus - Questions

Re: Merodontotus Tigrinus - Questions