GOLIATH TIGERFISH (Hydrocynus goliath) 4"

the goliath tigerfish is a predatory freshwater fish found in lakes and rivers in Africa. They can measure up to 5 feet in size and have been known to weigh anything up to 150lbs.

Tank Mates

This species should be kept alone in their tank at all times as they’re predator fish and can be extremely aggressive towards tank mates, even towards those of the same species. Juvenile goliath tigerfish may be shoal with other fish, in particular larger tank mates. 

We’d highly recommend against housing your goliath tigerfish in a tank with smaller tank mates as they will more than likely get ripped to shreds. This species may even attack and try to kill larger tank mates.

In the wild, the crocodile is the only predator of the goliath tigerfish, so you can see why this species should be kept alone without tank mates in their tank. The goliath tigerfish may also take on a baby crocodile in the wild if necessary and many locals who live near goliath tigerfish habitat claim that the species are not afraid of crocodiles at all. 

Water Parameters

The goliath tigerfish need a rather neutral water pH around 7.0 to 7.8 so depending on where you live, you may have to add some pH solution to your tank to get it to the right levels for them to be happy.

As for temperature, it should be sat around 76 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, as they’re native to Africa they’re used to warmer waters so you’ll need to use a tank heater for them otherwise they can become lethargic, refuse to eat, and then pass away when in cold water for long periods.

Their water should be clean and well-oxygenated at all times and will require a moderate to strong current which should be created by one or more powerheads by the heater in the tank.

They are very sensitive to water quality so ensuring that it is always right is a top priority.