Tiger-colored fish. Goliath fish. Habitat in nature

One of the most unusual freshwater inhabitants is the goliath fish. She rightfully deserved the name “river monster”, since her appearance can only cause fear and horror. Keep such fish in home aquarium almost impossible, 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. These are the dimensions of specimens living in wildlife. Aquarium inhabitants of this species rarely exceed 75 cm in length. Life expectancy is from 12 to 15 years.

Tiger fish goliath has an oblong 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.

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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 because of big size and needs 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. Minimum size 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 into small tributaries. Females try to lay eggs in quiet places where dense vegetation prevails. Once born, the fry live in fairly warm water, where there is plenty of available food. 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.

In the “River Monsters” program, the tiger fish was presented as a terrible predator, surpassing Amazonian piranhas in bloodthirstiness. But in the Congo River basin and Lake Tanganyika, these large freshwater inhabitants are valued as a commercial object.

The giant hydrocine, or goliath fish, belongs to the family of African tetras, representatives of which are often kept in home aquariums. Tiger hydrocin differs from beautiful fish not only in size, but also in appearance. This is a large, agile predator with an elongated, spindle-shaped body and a large head with powerful jaws.

The entire surface of the body is covered with golden-colored cycloid scales. On the back the shade becomes more saturated and turns into Brown color. The belly is light, yellowish or white, with a silvery tint.

Like all members of the family, at the beginning of the caudal peduncle there is a small adipose fin, reminiscent of the same in salmon breeds. The dorsal fin is single, triangular in shape, medium in size.

The head of the tiger fish is noteworthy. It makes up about ¼ of the total body length, is equipped with elongated strong jaws and large cone-shaped teeth. Lower jaw protrudes forward a little. The eyes are small, located in the upper part, there are no pharyngeal teeth, but oral cavity has a hard surface.

The unusual fish pose a danger to unwary fisherman and animals attempting to swim across the river. They are not as aggressive as their South American relatives, the piranhas, but are capable of inflicting severe injuries even a large animal.

Maximum size and weight

The crew of the River Monsters program traveled along the Congo River in Africa, waiting to meet the largest individual of the Galiath breed. Local residents called the specimen caught by the presenter J. Wade quite large: the length of the tiger hydrocin from the nose to the end of the caudal fin was 1.5 m.

The weight of the giant hydrocin turned out to be 70 kg. Ichthyologists call these parameters maximum; even old fish rarely exceed these sizes.

The males of this species of hydrocines are much larger than the females. The dimensions and weight of the latter rarely exceed 1 m and 40-50 kg. But even such a large fish becomes good prey for local residents. The meat of the large tiger fish is sun-dried and lightly smoked.

Fang teeth

Of particular concern to Europeans meeting such representatives of the ichthyofauna for the first time are the huge fangs, which is why the fish was called tiger. They are located in 1 row along the edge powerful jaws, protrude forward and are framed by slightly thickened lips.

Sharp teeth are few in number, there are only 32 of them, but they reach a length of 3-5 cm (depending on the size of the specimen).

In combination with strong jaws, the oral apparatus allows the tiger hydrocine to hunt objects of various sizes. The fish tears off pieces of meat and is capable of biting off a person’s finger.

Habitat

Distribution area predatory fish small. This species is endemic to the Congo River and its tributaries. Hydrocines are also found in lakes Tanganyika and Upemba, where for a long time developed in isolation from other bodies of water. Meet them at big rivers ahs and lakes of Africa, other than those mentioned above, is impossible.

What does it eat?

In habitats large fish occupy the ecological niche of obligate predators. They don't use plant foods, do not collect bottom inhabitants. The basis of the diet is fish fauna that lives in the water column.

River inhabitants use original way hunting: a strong, large goliath easily overcomes the current in rapids, and smaller species are carried away by the current into the mouth of the predator.

The tiger goliath that lives in lakes is deprived of such feeding behavior. Representatives of the species that live in calm water are forced to actively hunt, pursuing prey, as do predatory breeds of other lake fish (for example, pike or pike perch). When there is a shortage of food, they eat small hydrocines of their own or another species.

Local residents report that big fish(local name - mbenga) even attack crocodiles. They react to a splash of water or the movement of a prey by rushing at it with lightning speed.

Large tiger hydrocines are able to hunt even birds flying low over the water surface: with a strong throw, the fish jumps 70-100 cm into the air in a gentle arc, grabbing the prey.

Fishermen from coastal villages catch mbenga with live bait, using small fish species as bait. The main prey items are not very large specimens, but even such trophies are valued as a source of abundant food.

Sport hunting of tiger goliaths is carried out as entertainment for tourists, and the capture of the most major representatives kind.

Goliath breeding

Sexual maturity in large tiger fish occurs at 6-7 years of age. IN mating season males become brighter than females: their pectoral and ventral fins acquire an orange tint. There is practically no mating game: females only slightly tilt their body when the male approaches.

Spawning begins in the morning, at the beginning of spring (March-April), when the water temperature fluctuates between +26...+28°C. Spawning is extended and continues for several months (until mid-June).

The caviar has medium stickiness, which allows the eggs to stick to the rocks of the riffles of large rivers, where the goliath tiger fish, which lives in the channels, spawns. Lake forms spawn in portions at shallow depths (about 10 m), preferring rocky soil at the bottom.

The number of eggs reaches 25-30 thousand. Parents do not care about the offspring, and after spawning they return to a permanent lifestyle.

When enough high temperature water, incubation of eggs continues for several days (5-10 days). The larvae remain motionless for another 3-5 days, and then begin to swim independently. During this period they feed on plankton. As they grow, they begin to hunt aquatic inhabitants that they can cope with, and weak fry of their species.

Is it possible to keep tiger fish in an aquarium?

Due to its large size, the adult goliath is not popular among aquarists. But hydrocines are placed in viewing ponds of zoos or ichthyofauna exhibitions.

When trying to keep young animals at home, it is advisable to provide shelters in which large tiger fish like to rest during quiet periods of their life.

The temperature in the aquarium should not be lower than +26°C, the acidity of the medium (pH) should be about 6-8 units. It is recommended to ensure good filtration and aeration of the water.

Hydrocines are fed only with animal food for predators, meat, fry of other fish, live bloodworms or earthworms. The size of food organisms depends on the size of the fish.

You will have to keep a single representative in the aquarium: the goliath fish will quickly destroy its peaceful neighbors, and in a small volume of water it will begin to compete with its relatives.

On our planet, including in underwater world, you can truly meet 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 and 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 move from large rivers to 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 a dangerous adventure, but also a matter of honor. Fishermen from all over the world come to Africa for this.

One of the lucky people who caught the giant tiger goliath was 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 bare hands, is replete with the entire 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:

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 “ 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 tiger fish are not too demanding when it comes to keeping them. The key problems are a large aquarium size, as well as a large volume of food.

This species was first described in the middle of the last century. Its habitat is almost the entire territory of the 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 duct and powerful system filtration, since the way 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 have looked at the key characteristics of the 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.