Shovelnose Noob here. Intro, pictures and feeding questions

[ShovelNoseNY]

Hi, I have been a long time fish keeper and I just got a shovelnose knowing tank requrements and care, but didn't think the feeding would get so nuts. Right now he's about 5" long. He resides in one spot of the tank and is kinda lethargic unles he's hunting. Water quality is good, low nitrates/nitrites, decent PH.



Full tank shot (BIG file)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/ ... 030126.jpg

Closeup of FLABBY (Short for Fat lard a$$ed ba$tard) the catfish. The name was chosen cause that's what he will be.

He has eaten 10 Zebra Dianos in a week or so. 4 last night alone. I am quickly learning to keep feeders out of the tank till he's hungry.

He's fat on fish.(See sig) Tankmates include 3 mature cory cats, 4 3"-4" angels, 1 4" pleco in 110 gallons.
So should I start with frozen thawed shrimp or some other items like freeze dried foods? I thew some tiny feeder fish in there and the Angels ate them before he got a chance, never saw an angel take live food.


I would prefer to ween him off the live food due to disease and costs. Suggestions?

[LimaShovel]

That tank is huge that tiger can get 22inches or more with good water changes. I feed my tiger Sinking carnivore pellots. You can feed him once to twice a week and he will live.

[sidguppy]

at 22" it's only half grown.

with proper care and housing they reach 4 feet......

[LimaShovel]

By the time it gets thet big You will proubly give him away.

[pturley]

Please see my reply in this post:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... hp?t=10044

[pturley]

That is singularly the worst perception you can have.

So you're going to grow the fish for two the three years, then shrug the responsability once it gets too big for you to care for it. That's real great...

And of course, there are loads of giant aquariums just waiting for all the thousands of little catlets they sell in the big-box aquariums shops.

[TiGrInUs]

Your risking it with those cories. Cory cats could easily get stuck in the TSN's throught with their pectoral fins, which means both fish will die. Your angels and pleco will soon disapear as well if you dont remove them.

Feed the tsn some cut up raw shrimp, freeze dried krill, or some black worms when you turn off the lights. Take out a flash light and turn it on every 5 min or so too see if the tsn is eating the other foods. Eventually it should take to prepared.

They are nocturnal so they are most active at night,,,this is the most likely time they will take to prepared.

[ShovelNoseNY]

When he gets too big, out comes the cyanne pepper and the bbq. Anyone ever eaten a pet? Is that cruel?

[Shane]

We rasied cattle and hogs to eat, so I can not see how it would be cruel to raise and eat a fish. It is a fine line between aquaculture and aquarium husbandry. BTW, Pim steaks are about the only fish my wife will eat. The flesh is firm and tasty without that "fishy" taste many people do not care for.
-Shane

[PlecoCrazy]

My advice is buy the 1000 gallon aquarium first and then the catfish. Why do you buy these fish that grow huge and put them in small tanks.

If you lived in an apartment, would you buy a St. Bernard puppy as a pet? (Would you eat him if he got too big?)Probably not. I don't know why a fish is any different. You have a more probable chance of buying a house for you and the dog than you do purchasing a 1000 gallon + tank for your fish.

[pturley]

ShovelNoseNY Wrote:

When he gets too big, out comes the cyanne pepper and the bbq. Anyone ever eaten a pet? Is that cruel?

I don't have a problem with that.

[ShovelNoseNY]

My advice is buy the 1000 gallon aquarium first and then the catfish. Why do you buy these fish that grow huge and put them in small tanks.

If you lived in an apartment, would you buy a St. Bernard puppy as a pet? (Would you eat him if he got too big?)Probably not. I don't know why a fish is any different. You have a more probable chance of buying a house for you and the dog than you do purchasing a 1000 gallon + tank for your fish.

Cause they are cool and a lightly stocked 110 gallon is not exactly small. Also a Catfish won't sh!t on the carpet or knock over the brick-a-brack so they are great for apartments.

Would I eat him? Sure why not? Fish are pretty AND tasty. Do you eat fish?

[racoll]

i disagree, i think a 110 is exactly too small for a 3' long active predator.

i think fishkeepers should give the best possible care to the animals they keep. not just merely keep them alive.

please read my other post regarding your TSN.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... hp?t=10044


as far as eating it goes, i remember a thread where someone gave a very good reason why you shouldn't eat a fish you've kept in captivity. i can't remember, but it was something about the way it is kept polluting it's flesh.

[PlecoCrazy]

I do eat fish. I actually do not like catfish.

Most people grow attached to pets. I wouldn't think of eating a pet anymore than eating a friend.

I have had several customers with 2-3 foot catfish in 75-150 gallon tanks that smash the glass through on the side getting a little too excited hunting down their prey or getting spooked. That could cause a mess. They just get too big for these small tanks.

[ShovelNoseNY]

I do eat fish. I actually do not like catfish.

Most people grow attached to pets. I wouldn't think of eating a pet anymore than eating a friend.

I have had several customers with 2-3 foot catfish in 75-150 gallon tanks that smash the glass through on the side getting a little too excited hunting down their prey or getting spooked. That could cause a mess. They just get too big for these small tanks.

OK, I am convinced, back to the store it goes for credit.

Please take a look at the post I make in the Speak Easy.

[eclipsecatfish]

your not supposed to eat fish you use chemicals on you will die you cruel !#%#$$^%$#@#!

[ShovelNoseNY]

OK, I took all your advice and returned the shovelnose. Instead I picked up one of these that came in with the Sunday shipment at my local store.


I will still be around, I would like to eventually get some cats when I have a MUCH bigger tank I can dedicate to a couple full grown cats.

Thanks for the reality check.

[racoll]

there are loads of other great catfish that'll be really happy in that tank. TSN's aren't the only ones.

how about a small shoal of lima shovelnoses??

[LimaShovel]

I agree.Limas are a good catfish.It dont get 3 foot it gets about a 1 foot instead

[metallhd]

such a thread . . .

isn't a crayfish a vigorous little predator? I'd hate
to be a sleepy cory . . .

oh yeh, and the eating thing? Firm-fleshed fish
from cold flowing water or from the cold sea usually
is best, both are environments largely pristine.
I find the calmer the water the muddier the taste
of the fish unless they are just little guys.
I don't think I'd fancy eating any of mine but
I don't have anyone bigger than a mouthful besides
my little pl*co snacks . . . my two cents

[mokmu]

"Cause they are cool...." You bet they are!!!!

We already warned him. He asked us about care of the cat and feeding. The tank size issue has already been answered. Maybe we can actually answer his other questions this time.

Sheesh. Its just getting a bit boring. At least other moderators just answer the questions. They'd give their opinions but not badger the person asking questions.

If we are on the topic of proper care then why do we keep on pulling these fish away from their natural habitat? We buy these and when these fish get to us they are weak and not well fed. These fish die from all sorts of man made circumstances. If they die in their natural habitat at least they die there and not in out tanks. The fact of the matter is that these fish that WE KEEP will never be happy in any tank. These fish have no other purpose than to keep us happy. These fish are used to feed our fetish of watching fish helplessly swim around a tank. Did you ever watch "Finding Nemo"? Fish are cultivated, caught and sold for that very purpose --- to keep us happy. When buying fish, did you ever stop to wonder if the fish really likes to spend time with you? You want proper care? Then don't buy fish at all. Let them be free to swim around in the lakes and streams that they call home. Some people don't really care about your opinions.

BIG CATS!!! Yeah, they are cool!!!

Regards,
Mike D.

PS. I am sorry moderators. Sometimes it just gets too tiring. If people want the big cats then lets help the person in any way we can. Badgering them all the time on tank size does not help.

[Beersnob]

At my work we had to put something down concerning an unknown or little known fact. "I'm a catfish adict" was what I put down.. People still think I eat my Cories!!! I could never do that! Howver farm-raised catfish for the grill oh yeah !!@!!!!


Onto the TSN issue. I believe that certain sized fish should never be in the home aquaria. Lima Shovelnose is about as big as we should keep. That's why we have Public Aquaria. Please note that the Belle Isle Aquaria is closing within the month....Detroit is closing one of the icons!

Thanks,

Scott