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African Tigerfish
Hydrocynus goliath (Boulenger, 1898)
Temperament: Aggressive
Sociability: Groups
Min. Tank: 900 gallons
Availability: Rare
Area: Middle
Largest of the Characins, the African Tigerfish is big, powerful, and
well armed, thus making it among the worlds most sought after gamefish.
It lives in the open rivers and streams of central and northern Africa.
The impression one gets from viewing these fish, is one of awe, terror,
and mystery, not unlike the feeling of watching a Great White Shark.
This fish is basically an enlarged version of a Tetra. All of the fins
are pointed, there is an adipose fin, the scales are large for a
Characin, and the mouth and dentention are extremely well developed. The
teeth are designed and look like knives. Each tooth fits in a socket
between each tooth, allowing the teeth to mesh like cutting sheers. All
teeth are seen all the time even when the mouth is completely shut. The
entire body is sleek and designed for speed.
Horizontal unbroken black bands run along the entire body, hence the
name Tigerfish. The rest of the body is usually a silver-white-grey,
however there is usually a metallic orange or yellow sheen. Many
specimens have various blue to green pigmented scales.
One of the most fearsome predators freshwater has ever known, the
Tigerfish has a viscious reputation. These fish hunt in large packs,
just as their South American counterparts, the Piranhas do. Prey consist
primarily of other fish, but just about anything alive can fall prey to
the Tigerfish. Like the Piranha, prey is eaten away bite by bite.
Because they have razor sharp knife-like teeth, and extremely strong jaw
muscles, they are among the few fish that can turn the tables on prey
the same size or larger than themselves. There are unverified reports of
attacks on humans.
This fish is probably entirely unsuitable for captivity because they are
enormous, and require a huge body of water to support them. Nothing
under 900 gallons is suitable. For tankmates, the only fish that won't
be torn to pieces are other individuals of the same size. Aquarium
furnishings would only be a hinderence.
Live foods are a must, particularly live fish. Once the tigerfish gets
used to captivity it might except lean meat like beef heart. It is not
advisable to stick your bare hands or other appendage into the tank
containing this potentially dangerous or even deadly fish.
Keep the water extremely well-aerated and moving, with a neutral to
alkaline pH at a temperature between 75 to 84 degrees F.
Breeding is rare in captivity. Only H. vittatus has been known to spawn
in the aquarium. It is a smaller species, reaching three feet in length.
The importation of these fish must be considered rare and exceptional.
If you somehow get a hold of one, you will have something special, a
perfect machine devised by nature for one purpose.
Family: Alestiidae
Type: Characins
Distribution: Rivers and lakes of Africa
Max Size: 72"
pH: Slightly Alkaline
Temperature: 76-84° F.
Diet: Carnivorous
The above was copied from Aquaria Central.
There seems to be at least four species of ATF.
Hydrocynus Goliath........over 5'
Hydrocynus Vittatus.......over 3'
Hydrocynus Tanzaniae...3'
Hydrocynus Brevis.........the smallest, not exceeding 30"
H. Vittatus was formerly called H. Forskahlii, same fish.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
These are truely specialized predators. They are extremely fast swimmers
that need lots of space to safely maneuver. I know the above states
min. 900g, but I don't believe that as being the rule. A 360g tank is
sufficient to keep one Vittatus or other striped variety. For Goliath, I
agree, 900g being min. Keep lids closed and weighted down as these are
accomplished jumpers.
Growth rate is slow (6-9" per year). So if you have a 180g tank, and
were to purchase a 3" specimen, you could get away with it for about a
year, maybe a little bit more. Because these are normally very nervous
and flighty fish in their juvenile to adolecence, at 1' they may start
to bash themselves into the walls of a 2' wide tank. It helps if you
black out the sides and back of the tank giving only one window to be
able to view them. This gives the sense of increased security and
therefore lessens spazzing. As they get larger and mature, they seem to
settle down quite a bit. Avoid sharp rocks as they can easily injure
themselves on them as they speed by. If you are planning to keep more
than one, adding some obstructions such as driftwood may help against
aggression by breaking up territory and providing cover. Plastic plants
also work well. Providing clean, well areated water is a essential.
Current is recommended especially as they get larger and require higher
levels of oxygen.
As for temperament, they are aggressive predators, not all out brawlers.
They are very quarrelsome amongst each other or anything that resembles
them. As juveniles they don't seem to defend themselves very well
against the true fighters such as aggressive cichlids, Jardinis, and
even African Pike, etc... and often get bullied or killed by such. That
timidness disappears as they get larger. It seems as though they know
that they possess some real weapons. There have been many incidents
where good sized ATF has severely lacerated or amputated the rear
portion of a tankmate out of a territorial dispute or predation, so
choose the tankmates carefully. Sometimes it may be best to wait until
the ATF is at least 6-8" before introducing tankmates as many of the
fish that would be compatible at a later time grow much quicker and
would bully or make a meal of them. Good tankmates include the bichirs
(bottom level preds which are also good for cleaning up scraps), larger
Synodontis cats (Decorus, Angelicus, Granulosus), large barbs (good
dithers ), med to large semi aggressive cichlids (Frontosas, larger
Haps Oscars, etc...), Red Hook Silver Dollars, etc...
For food, aside from live fish, they will accept most meaty items
(shrimp, smelt, catfish filets, beefheart, etc...).
In conclusion, they are awesome, but not for everyone with a large tank.
To be truely successful with ATFs, the tank has to be tailored to them.
Its one thing to have a large ATF, its quite another to have a
flawless, mint looking large one.
H. Vittatus
H. Goliath
Hydrocynus goliath (Boulenger, 1898)
Temperament: Aggressive
Sociability: Groups
Min. Tank: 900 gallons
Availability: Rare
Area: Middle
Largest of the Characins, the African Tigerfish is big, powerful, and
well armed, thus making it among the worlds most sought after gamefish.
It lives in the open rivers and streams of central and northern Africa.
The impression one gets from viewing these fish, is one of awe, terror,
and mystery, not unlike the feeling of watching a Great White Shark.
This fish is basically an enlarged version of a Tetra. All of the fins
are pointed, there is an adipose fin, the scales are large for a
Characin, and the mouth and dentention are extremely well developed. The
teeth are designed and look like knives. Each tooth fits in a socket
between each tooth, allowing the teeth to mesh like cutting sheers. All
teeth are seen all the time even when the mouth is completely shut. The
entire body is sleek and designed for speed.
Horizontal unbroken black bands run along the entire body, hence the
name Tigerfish. The rest of the body is usually a silver-white-grey,
however there is usually a metallic orange or yellow sheen. Many
specimens have various blue to green pigmented scales.
One of the most fearsome predators freshwater has ever known, the
Tigerfish has a viscious reputation. These fish hunt in large packs,
just as their South American counterparts, the Piranhas do. Prey consist
primarily of other fish, but just about anything alive can fall prey to
the Tigerfish. Like the Piranha, prey is eaten away bite by bite.
Because they have razor sharp knife-like teeth, and extremely strong jaw
muscles, they are among the few fish that can turn the tables on prey
the same size or larger than themselves. There are unverified reports of
attacks on humans.
This fish is probably entirely unsuitable for captivity because they are
enormous, and require a huge body of water to support them. Nothing
under 900 gallons is suitable. For tankmates, the only fish that won't
be torn to pieces are other individuals of the same size. Aquarium
furnishings would only be a hinderence.
Live foods are a must, particularly live fish. Once the tigerfish gets
used to captivity it might except lean meat like beef heart. It is not
advisable to stick your bare hands or other appendage into the tank
containing this potentially dangerous or even deadly fish.
Keep the water extremely well-aerated and moving, with a neutral to
alkaline pH at a temperature between 75 to 84 degrees F.
Breeding is rare in captivity. Only H. vittatus has been known to spawn
in the aquarium. It is a smaller species, reaching three feet in length.
The importation of these fish must be considered rare and exceptional.
If you somehow get a hold of one, you will have something special, a
perfect machine devised by nature for one purpose.
Family: Alestiidae
Type: Characins
Distribution: Rivers and lakes of Africa
Max Size: 72"
pH: Slightly Alkaline
Temperature: 76-84° F.
Diet: Carnivorous
The above was copied from Aquaria Central.
There seems to be at least four species of ATF.
Hydrocynus Goliath........over 5'
Hydrocynus Vittatus.......over 3'
Hydrocynus Tanzaniae...3'
Hydrocynus Brevis.........the smallest, not exceeding 30"
H. Vittatus was formerly called H. Forskahlii, same fish.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
These are truely specialized predators. They are extremely fast swimmers
that need lots of space to safely maneuver. I know the above states
min. 900g, but I don't believe that as being the rule. A 360g tank is
sufficient to keep one Vittatus or other striped variety. For Goliath, I
agree, 900g being min. Keep lids closed and weighted down as these are
accomplished jumpers.
Growth rate is slow (6-9" per year). So if you have a 180g tank, and
were to purchase a 3" specimen, you could get away with it for about a
year, maybe a little bit more. Because these are normally very nervous
and flighty fish in their juvenile to adolecence, at 1' they may start
to bash themselves into the walls of a 2' wide tank. It helps if you
black out the sides and back of the tank giving only one window to be
able to view them. This gives the sense of increased security and
therefore lessens spazzing. As they get larger and mature, they seem to
settle down quite a bit. Avoid sharp rocks as they can easily injure
themselves on them as they speed by. If you are planning to keep more
than one, adding some obstructions such as driftwood may help against
aggression by breaking up territory and providing cover. Plastic plants
also work well. Providing clean, well areated water is a essential.
Current is recommended especially as they get larger and require higher
levels of oxygen.
As for temperament, they are aggressive predators, not all out brawlers.
They are very quarrelsome amongst each other or anything that resembles
them. As juveniles they don't seem to defend themselves very well
against the true fighters such as aggressive cichlids, Jardinis, and
even African Pike, etc... and often get bullied or killed by such. That
timidness disappears as they get larger. It seems as though they know
that they possess some real weapons. There have been many incidents
where good sized ATF has severely lacerated or amputated the rear
portion of a tankmate out of a territorial dispute or predation, so
choose the tankmates carefully. Sometimes it may be best to wait until
the ATF is at least 6-8" before introducing tankmates as many of the
fish that would be compatible at a later time grow much quicker and
would bully or make a meal of them. Good tankmates include the bichirs
(bottom level preds which are also good for cleaning up scraps), larger
Synodontis cats (Decorus, Angelicus, Granulosus), large barbs (good
dithers ), med to large semi aggressive cichlids (Frontosas, larger
Haps Oscars, etc...), Red Hook Silver Dollars, etc...
For food, aside from live fish, they will accept most meaty items
(shrimp, smelt, catfish filets, beefheart, etc...).
In conclusion, they are awesome, but not for everyone with a large tank.
To be truely successful with ATFs, the tank has to be tailored to them.
Its one thing to have a large ATF, its quite another to have a
flawless, mint looking large one.
H. Vittatus
H. Goliath
Last edited by WILLS on Sun 11 Jul 2010, 6:28 pm; edited 1 time in total
