Sea tiger fish. River monster - Goliath tiger fish: description, characteristics and interesting facts

Goliath fish, also called tiger fish, is one of the most unusual freshwater fish; it has a specific appearance, because of which it is often referred to as a “river monster.” Goliath means “giant” in Latin, and the literal name of the tiger fish, goliath, translates to “giant water dog.”

The character of this river inhabitant matches his appearance. Goliath has unique teeth - these are large and sharp fangs. The tiger fish is large and ferocious, its powerful body is covered with large scales of a silvery hue, sometimes with a golden tint.

Where does the goliath fish live?

It is practically impossible to find the Goliath tiger fish in a simple home aquarium, but it is often kept in zoos, as well as in aquariums at exhibitions. Under natural conditions this giant monster can grow up to 150 centimeters, and its weight is about 50 kilograms.

Looking at the fangs of the goliath, it becomes clear that her diet contains not only plants. Tiger fish is dangerous and very active predator, which is somewhat reminiscent of a piranha, but, unlike this predator, the goliath is larger. With its large fangs, it is capable of tearing whole pieces of flesh out of its victims' bodies.

It is impossible to keep such a pet in a regular aquarium, primarily due to its size. After all, a goliath requires an aquarium the size of no less than 3 thousand liters. But in content tiger fish not too whimsical. The key problems are the aquarium big size, as well as a large amount of food.

This species was first described in the middle of the last century. Its habitat is almost the entire territory African continent from Egypt to the south. It is found most often in the following bodies of water:

• Congo.
• Senegal.
• Lake Tanganyika.

Large tiger predator loves to live in large lakes and rivers, prefers to live in schools with representatives of its own species or with other predators from the water depths.

Such predators characterized by insatiability and greed, in natural conditions it can hunt:

• on fish;
• other underwater abodes;
• crocodiles, etc.

Were recorded cases of attacks on people, but they are not so frequent.

External description of the Goliath tiger fish

If speak about external characteristics Goliath fish, then they are as follows:

Average tiger fish lives about 12–15 years.

Features of keeping goliath fish

As already mentioned, tiger fish are not intended for keeping at home. Most often in captivity they are kept in species or commercial aquariums.

Goliath tiger fish in natural conditions primarily feed fish and small mammals, but this does not mean at all that they will not eat detritus or food of plant origin. They will not disdain different foods; this fish can be called an omnivore.

• Fish fillet.
• Shrimps.
• Live small fish.
• Ground meat.

At first, the goliath will eat only live food, but in the process of getting used to new conditions, it can switch to artificial or frozen food. The fry can even eat flakes, but over time they will need to be switched to granules and pellets.

But it is worth knowing that if feeding with live food is too frequent, the goliath fish will not eat anything else, so its diet needs to be mixed.

As for the requirements for keeping in an aquarium, we have already said - the aquarium must be large, its minimum volume must be from 2 thousand or 3 thousand liters. We must not forget about the flow and a powerful filtration system, since the way the fish feed is such that it will tear live food into pieces, and this does not contribute to the purity of the water.

Tiger fish are also accustomed to living in rivers with large currents, so the aquarium should also have one. If we talk about aquarium decor, we can limit ourselves to the following:

• stones;
• sand;
• large snags.

But green landscapes are not particularly needed here, especially since such an inhabitant requires a lot of free space.

Temperament and breeding

If we talk about living together with other species, then the goliath’s character is not so aggressive, but we must not forget about its appetites; accordingly, its neighbors risk becoming food.

Therefore, tiger goliaths in species aquariums are best keep separately or with other species of large freshwater animals, for example, arapaima.

There are them in the aquarium bred extremely rarely, most often the fry are caught in reservoirs and then raised in artificial conditions. And in natural environment habitat, they spawn for only a few days, in January or December during the rainy season.

For this purpose, they migrate from large rivers to small tributaries. In shallow places, females lay a lot of eggs in dense vegetation. The hatched fry then live in warm reservoirs, where there is a lot of food, and then the current carries them into large reservoirs. Males also differ from females in that they much larger and more massive.

So we've looked at key characteristics Goliath tiger fish, which mainly lives either in natural conditions or in large species aquariums. But this is a fish for home breeding hardly suitable.

On our planet, including in the underwater world, you can meet truly amazing creatures. One such creature is the goliath tigerfish or Hydrocynus goliath, which is Latin for “giant water dog.” The article will tell you where this unusual freshwater fish lives in nature, what it looks like, and what it eats. We will also find out whether this river monster can be kept in a home aquarium.

Her homeland is Africa. The most comfortable environment for a giant to live are large rivers and lakes: Congo, Senegal, Nile, Omo and Tanganyika. Not found in other places.

Giant hydrocines live in flocks with individuals of their own species or similar ones. They are greedy and insatiable. Perhaps only piranhas are more bloodthirsty than them. They catch fish, aquatic animals and can even attack a crocodile. There are cases of attacks on humans, but these are most likely accidents.

The first description of it was given in 1861.

Locals call the fish mbenga. Fishing for it is not only a popular activity for them, but also a popular entertainment for visitors. This is not an easy task, since no fishing line can withstand the onslaught of its teeth. For fishing, special very durable steel leashes are used.

What does a goliath tiger fish look like?

Her body is powerful, strong, oblong in shape. It is covered with large scales, shimmering with silver and sometimes gold. The fins are small, pointed, red or bright orange.

The head is large with a huge mouth, in which there are 16 large sharp fangs, similar in size to the teeth of a white shark (8 at the top and 8 at the bottom). With these fangs, the goliath tears its prey into pieces. During life, they are replaced by new ones, and old ones fall out.

The fish has excellent hearing and can sense low-frequency vibrations from prey. And it is not difficult for her to move in water with a turbulent current.

This representative of the African family can grow up to 180 cm. The weight of this fish is 50 kg. Males are larger than females. For these huge dimensions, she was given the nickname “Goliath”, who, as we know, was a great warrior almost three meters tall. And she is brindle because of the horizontal dark stripes on her sides, very similar to tiger stripes.

Giants live from 12 to 15 years.

Scientists consider the goliath to be a contemporary of dinosaurs. It is very difficult to survive in the places where he lives. That is why the fish went through its evolutionary path and became a dangerous creature. However, not only predators, but also humans became a threat to her. Mass catching and poisoning of coastal vegetation with chemicals have significantly reduced the number of the species. Local authorities and environmental services are trying to rectify the situation.

What does goliath tiger fish eat?

Under natural conditions, its food is small mammals, fish (mainly Kamba, which is abundant in the Congo). She does not disdain vegetation and detritus. And in case of severe hunger, it even attacks crocodiles.

A powerful goliath can simply calmly move against the current, and weaker inhabitants who are not capable of this will themselves fall into its mouth.

Is it possible to keep Hydrocynus goliath in an aquarium?

This fish is famous in the aquarium world. She is considered quite. However, due to its size and gregarious lifestyle, it needs huge volumes (from 3 thousand liters) and a lot of food.

A powerful filter capable of creating a rapid current would also not hurt. That is why it is not possible to keep her at home.

But it is found in zoos and exhibition aquariums. They always have powerful filtration configured and shelters are equipped. The bottom most often contains sand, stones and driftwood. Plants are rare. The temperature there is 23-26 °C, acidity 6.5-7.5 pH.

Few neighbors will be able to survive next to a goliath, so most often a species aquarium is equipped for them. Or they plant large and protected fish like arapaima.

Some argue that juveniles can be kept in a home aquarium, but they grow quickly and need to be housed somewhere later. The diet in captivity needs to be varied: live fish, minced meat, shrimp, fish fillet, frozen and artificial food (granulated and pellets, these are balls and cylinders made from various components).

About the reproduction of tiger goliath fish

They do not breed in captivity. Fry are caught in the habitats of these fish.

In nature, spawning occurs during the rainy season (December-January) and lasts only a few days. Goliaths are moving from big rivers into small tributaries, where females lay a lot of eggs in shallow water in thickets. For hatched fry here ideal conditions: safety, warm water and plenty of food. They grow up and are gradually washed back into large rivers.

This might be interesting

Catching these scary freshwater fish is often compared to bear hunting in the taiga. Catching a goliath is not only dangerous adventure, but also a matter of honor. Fishermen from all over the world come to Africa for this.

One of the lucky ones who caught a giant specimen tiger goliath, became 52-year-old Jeremy Wide, who is an expert on freshwater fish and host of the “River Monsters” program. The journey into remote areas of the Congo and eight days of waiting were rewarded. In his hands was a specimen measuring 1.5 meters and 70 kilograms. Photos of a fearless man holding a dangerous fish with his bare hands are all over the Internet.

Unfortunately, for obvious reasons, it is impossible to place the Goliath tiger fish in your home aquarium. And it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to visit its habitats. But if you are lucky enough to find yourself in a zoo or at an exhibition with this “exhibit,” be sure to look at it. It's worth it.

Popular science video about goliath fish:

One of the most unusual freshwater inhabitants is the goliath fish. She rightfully deserves the name “river monster”, since her appearance can only cause fear and horror. It is almost impossible to keep such a fish in a home aquarium, but it is often bred in zoos and exhibition aquariums.

This fish has bigger teeth

Description of the fish

An adult can reach 150 cm in length, and its weight varies from 45 to 50 kg. Moreover, males are much larger than females. Specimens living in the wild have these dimensions. Aquarium inhabitants of this species rarely exceed 75 cm in length. Life expectancy is from 12 to 15 years.

Goliath tiger fish has an elongated body with rather strong muscles and pointed fins, but the greatest interest is not the body itself, but the head of the tiger goliath. It is large in size and has a large mouth with sharp teeth. There are 8 teeth on the upper and lower jaws, shaped like fangs. Their main purpose is not to chew food, but to capture prey. Over the course of a lifetime, teeth may fall out several times, but new ones always grow to replace the old ones.

In this video you will learn more about this fish:

Living in the wild

The large goliath tiger fish was first described in 1861. The main habitat is considered to be the entire territory of Africa. Most often this species can be found in rivers:

• Senegal;
• Congo;

The fish is also found in Lake Tanganyika. The Goliath tiger fish prefers to live in large bodies of water. Lives in schools together with its relatives and similar predators.

In Africa, goliath fishing is extremely popular among both local residents, and among tourists. For the latter, it is more about entertainment than thirst for profit.

This fish lives in 4 rivers

Soda

staying in the aquarium and feeding

Goliath, also called hydrocinus, can be kept in an aquarium. They are not suitable for a home aquarium solely due to the large size and the need for large quantities food. You can keep young individuals, taking into account the fact that as they grow, you will have to get rid of them.

To keep it in an observation aquarium you need little, since these fish are unpretentious. There will also be no problems with feeding, since the goliath terapon belongs to the category of omnivorous fish. Fish fillets are suitable as food in an aquarium., small fish, shrimp and minced meat. The only requirement is that the diet must be balanced.

Interesting fact! Photographs were taken that show the goliath catching birds in flight that fly low over the water. That is, this fish has the ability to jump out of the water for a short period of time to catch prey.

Due to its habit of living in packs, the giant goliath requires a lot of free space in the aquarium. The minimum size of the latter must be at least 3000 liters. In addition, it is necessary to take care of a good filtration system, since fish have a habit of tearing food apart when eating, which contributes to water pollution. In the wild, the African goliath is accustomed to living in rivers with strong currents, so it must be provided for in the aquarium. It is better to use large stones and driftwood for decorative details, and choose sand for the soil. Algae will be unnecessary.

The nature of the goliath may not necessarily be aggressive, but due to their good appetite, their neighbors in the aquarium can often lose their lives. Best option neighbors - other predators capable of defending themselves from their attacks.

Difficulties of breeding

In an aquarium, these inhabitants can look very exciting, but, unfortunately, breeding them in such conditions is almost impossible. Fry are raised in most cases in natural reservoirs.

There are 2 months for breeding this fish

The best time for spawning is the rainy season. This time spans two months:

• January;
• December.

To do this, they swim from large rivers to small tributaries. Females try to lay eggs in quiet places where dense vegetation prevails. The fry that are born live in fairly warm water, where there is a lot of food available. Over time, they are carried by the current into larger bodies of water.

Goliath is large predator, having a rather interesting appearance that attracts attention. But at the same time, the fish is quite dangerous, so you need to be careful when catching it. If you manage to catch it, you can cook it for food. It is good fried and boiled. It is recommended to use basil and curry as spices, and add salt according to taste preferences.

Which I recently showed. They called it partly photoshopped :-)

Therefore, let me show you an even more toothy fish, which most probably already know about. She is very popular on the Internet because she looks very impressive! So, meet...

IN largest river Central Africa Congo There are about 700 species of all kinds of fish. Some of these river inhabitants are quite predatory individuals, capable of posing a threat not only to their river relatives, but also to humans. Goliath tiger fish (Hydrocynus goliath)- a representative of just this type of predatory fish. This “river monster,” reaching a length of up to one and a half meters and weighing more than 50 kg, is armed with a set of 32 large and sharp teeth, shaped like fangs.

What Jeremy Wade hooked on was a large tiger fish, or giant hydrocyn (lat. Hydrocynus goliath) from the order Characinidae. She is considered where more dangerous than piranha, and thanks to its 32 fang-like teeth and impressive size, the fish even attacks crocodiles.

The individual that Wade caught weighs 45 kg and is almost 2 meters long. "This is very, very dangerous fish. You need to be careful with her, get distracted and she will bite off your finger, or even worse,” the man said.

Tiger fish Goliath, a predatory fish species weighing up to 154 pounds and up to 5 feet long, . Widely known as a fierce-looking creature with sharp teeth, the Goliath fish is just one example of the wide variety of fish species that are found in the Congo River, 80% of which are found nowhere else in the world.

The "monster fish" is capable of swimming in rough waters and can easily grab smaller fish that cannot swim against the current. She is also able to pick up low-frequency vibrations emitted by her prey.

The Congo River is home to 686 species of fish. In an article describing the wonders of the Congo, International Fund wildlife documented the existence of exotic fish living in its waters. The elephant fish has an electrical organ in its tail, which is used for navigation and communication with its own kind. National Geographic magazine reports that the fish also has a long trunk to sift through sediment on the river bottom for food.

Lungfish, unlike most fish, can breathe air. They survive with little or even no oxygen. During the dry season, they burrow into mud holes and become coated in mucus. Many-feathered fish resemble ancient fish, “with lobed fins and a hard, scaly covering.”

Congo River fish are able to adapt to their surrounding conditions with incredible efficiency. Some hide from predators in water hyacinths that grow along the banks of the river, others live in partially submerged fallen trees.

However, some fishermen overfish or use methods that harm fish populations, such as destroying riverside vegetation with herbicides, using explosives and poisons. This has led to the decline of some fish species, which, according to research carried out by the Congo River Conservation and Development Project (CREDP), threatens diversity underwater world rivers.

The Goliath fish is not currently endangered, but with the help of Animal Planet it will bring much more attention to the region.

There are 5 known species of tiger fish, but the largest species lives in Africa, exclusively in the Congo River basin. This predator can reach up to 180 centimeters in length and weigh more than 50 kilograms.

Fisherman and expert on unusual freshwater fish Jeremy Wade managed to catch the giant specimen. He caught one of the largest specimens, weighing up to 154 pounds (about 70 kilograms) and up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) long.

The Goliath tiger fish is popular as a sport fish in Africa. The Congo is the deepest and second longest river in Africa. The depth of the river in the vicinity of Brazzaville reaches 100 meters. The Goliath tiger fish is the largest species of all tiger fish, and the structure of the jaws allows the tiger fish to open its mouth wider than other fish can. predatory fish. This feature makes the mouth even more terrifying, and the fish more attractive as a trophy.

Tiger fish are known in the aquarium hobby; they are kept in exhibition aquariums with shelters and powerful filtration. The water temperature in the aquarium is 23 - 26 °C, water pH is 6.5 - 7.5.

It is extremely difficult to catch such fish, especially for amateurs, since they live in rather remote and inaccessible places of the Congo River, where a guide will not take you.

According to him, holding this fish is not just scary. If you're not careful, she'll bite your finger off or worse.

Clickable 1600 px

sources
ianimal.ru
torchu.ru
borshec.ru
zooeco.com
animalworld.com.ua

What Jeremy Wade hooked on was a large Goliath tiger fish from the order Perciformes. It is considered much more dangerous than the piranha, and due to its impressive size, the fish even attacks crocodiles.

The individual that Wade caught weighs 45 kg and is almost 2 meters long. “This is a very, very dangerous fish. You need to be careful with it, get distracted and it will bite off your finger, or even worse,” the man said.

The Goliath tigerfish, a predatory fish species weighing up to 154 pounds and up to 5 feet long, was recently featured on Animal Planet's new program, "River Monsters." Widely known as a fierce-looking creature with sharp teeth, the Goliath fish is just one example of the wide variety of fish species that are found in the Congo River, 80% of which are found nowhere else in the world.

The "monster fish" is capable of swimming in rough waters and can easily grab smaller fish that cannot swim against the current. She is also able to pick up low-frequency vibrations emitted by her prey.

The Congo River is home to 686 species of fish. In an article describing the wonders of the Congo, the International Wildlife Fund documented the existence of exotic fish living in its waters. The elephant fish has an electrical organ in its tail, which is used for navigation and communication with its own kind. National Geographic magazine reports that the fish also has a long trunk to sift through sediment on the river bottom for food.

Lungfish, unlike most fish, can breathe air. They survive with little or even no oxygen. During the dry season, they burrow into mud holes and become coated in mucus. Many-feathered fish resemble ancient fish, “with lobed fins and a hard, scaly covering.”
Congo River fish are able to adapt to their surrounding conditions with incredible efficiency. Some hide from predators in water hyacinths that grow along the banks of the river, others live in partially submerged fallen trees.
However, some fishermen overfish or use methods that harm fish populations, such as destroying riverside vegetation with herbicides, using explosives and poisons. This has led to a decline in some fish species, which, according to research by the Congo River Conservation and Development Project (CREDP), threatens the river's underwater diversity.