merodontus tigrinus at trimar...

[Paul_MTS]

they actually have them!!

small ones are £155 at aorund 7cm and the slightly bigger ones are £185 at 10cm.

must.................resist.................to.................spend..................money............ahhhhhhhhh!!!

 

[CFC]

Whatever you do DO NOT TOUCH THEM AT UNDER 6 INCHES!! Small tigrinus are very very delicate and have a high mortality rate when small. If you really want one spend the cash on a bigger specimin.

Wildwoods also has them at about 10cm for £235.

 

[andywg]

Shotgate aquatics in Basildon has one at around 15"-18" for £1,200...

From a quick bit of reading through elsewhere, a writer who chatted to a catcher/exporter of them said that if caught at larger than 12" then they were very unlikely to feed in captivity, so I'd try and gor for in between the ranges.

CFC's 10"ers (ooh, matron ) ) seem to be a good option.

 

[Paul_MTS]

I had been told that aswell but 10cm is right on the verge and Trimar have a good gurantee I think??

It's a shame I can't really fund it at the moment.

I think Wildwoods is way to far and Shotgates 1 is too big to put in my tank would beable to eat a few at that size.

CFC your local to Wholesale tropicals aren't you, I think they have tigrinus in...any ideas on there size??

I think I might of found a home for my TSN it's would be going into a big 8ft thats 40inch high.

I know it's not a heated pond but I reakon thats the best I'm going to find.

 

[andywg]

That's a lot better than most will find. It's a shame I can't get my project up and running sooner, as everywhere I look at the moment I seem to be seeing RTCs, TSNs and hybrids...

 

[CFC]

Wholesale topicals is about the same distance as Wildwoods is from me, in traveling time anyway. The last time i was at WST the tigs they had were about 6cm, way too small for me to even look twice at.

Trimar only guarentee it arrives alive, a hour after you sign the delivery note it is all your responsibility, most places offer no guarentee on tigs as it is well known how fussy and delicate they are. Trust me if they were worth a risk i would already have one but until i know im in a situation where the fish will never have to be moved again i will not invest that much in a fish.

Wildwoods shouldnt be too far from you, its just off junction 24 of the M25.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Oh only 80miles, thought it wsas more than that, would have to be my brother driving though, my dad won't take me that far!!

it is a shame about the size, after i get my tigrinus and get rid of a few sevs and my apollo sharks I'm done stocking that tank.

I reakon i will end up swappin gmy rays into something a little smaller aswell, being reticulas (sp??) i think i found they get to 50cm so once there bigger maybe they would be worth enough to swap in for some motoro or a siliar small species.

WW advertise they have only babies aswell though.

 

[CFC]

P.reticulatus are one of the smallest rays, motoros get huge in comparison at about 24" disk diameter, the only small species i can think of is P.castexi which only grows to around 12" but is a very rare species to find in the UK.

 

[Paul_MTS]

oh right....i thought motoro's got to 12"...god i'ved found some dodgy info recently...

do you think there going to be ok in my tank??

 

[CFC]

The retics should be fine in your tank, as they grow you may have to completely clear the bottom area for swimming space ut the actually foot print is good.

 

[Oddball]

Done a little research on these and i can house two of these, they are beautiful arent they?

Where is this lfs? as in a twon and directions from a main road in the town to it, i think i can stretch to getting these fish..........

Has there been any information on breeding/feeding of these fish?

 

[CFC]

Meredontus tigrinus has not yet been bred in captivity (that i know of), all imports are captive bred.

The address for Wildwoods is

Theobalds Park Road
Crews Hill
Enfield
Middlesex
EN2 9BP

Tel: 0208 366 0243, ask for Keith.

M.tigrinus is quite territorial toward its own kind and similar looking fish, unless you have at least 250 gallons per fish i would not suggest keeping two in one tank.
As for feeding they are the same as any other large predatory catfish, feed them on frozen fish, cockles, mussels and shrimp.

 

[Oddball]

Thanks cfc, a fount of catfish knowledge as ever

Okay so i cant keep two of these, but can i keep some other form of exotic fish with them, say arrowanas, or dischotodius sexfasciatus, maybe flag tailed prochilodus?

Any other form of big mid/top water oddity or shoaler recommendations?

 

[CFC]

Flag tails will work as long as you get them to a good size before you get the tigrinus, tigs (like most pimeloids) grow fast until the hit around a foot and then slow down, but a foot long predatory cat can still take sizeable prey. Arowana's will also work. Distichodus become aggressive and intollerent of tankmates as they grow and have a formidable bite, i wouldnt risk them with a expensive fish like a tigrinus.

 

[Oddball]

mmmmm im thinking black/red arrowana, how would i go about a tank layout to accomodate both of these fish, as i believe the cat would appreciate some covrer but the arrowana requires a large swimming area am i right?

Perhaps a lawn of some sort of moss/short grassy plan with some magrove roots in one corner? a few watrer hyacinths and some aquatic lillies? or are these two between them liable to tear it up, any info is appreciated