Calophysus Macropterus (Vulture / Machete Catfish) Aggression

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Polypterus
MFK Member
Sep 2, 2007
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Hey all,
My LFS has a few of these at about 6-7" and I was thinking of picking one up.
I'm reading mixed reviews on aggression. I've read that they are savages, and that they are relatively peaceful. As with most opportunistic cats, I assume that any fish that can fit in its mouth may end up there, but do they take chunks out of larger fish as well?
Thanks.
 
I've had one with smaller and larger fish, no aggression whatsoever. They seem to be relatively peaceful in the aquarium from what I've seen for myself and from other members who have/had them


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But either way, never trust a catfish, especially those with long whiskers and mouth. Whiskers mean predators as these are used as sensors to detect prey. I have seen my 2in raphael take on baby guppies and shrimps even when they are peaceful fish. Have also seen my giraffe catfish chasing my congiscus and senagus bichir even though these guys are peaceful fishes. Seen my hybrid ate a similar sized L1 pleco too, when they started out as good friends then one day, the pleco tail is sticking out of the hybrid mouth. So yeah, never fully trust a catfish
 
Neither Necro's nor my vultures exhibited the savage behavior they are infamous for. My current thinking is they have to be very hungry and in a good size pack, kind of like piranhas.

In fact, I've never come across a report of a vulture biting chunks out of tank mates in captivity, keeping in mind I am the farthest from all-knowing and that this fish is indeed equipped to do so.

Some/most?/all? reports of such vulture behavior appear to arise from anglers when their hooked fish is attacked by the vulture catfish to the point of being dragged out of the water and them still being attached to their victim. So, perhaps it takes the smell of blood and the distress/helplessness of the victim too.
 
Thanks for the great info guys.
He will be going in with my Channa Pleurophthalma (top dwellers) and a Megalodoras Uranoscopus.
I totally agree with never trusting a catfish, but all of his tankmates will have a size advantage, so I think that I'm going to take the risk.
Thanks again for the help everyone.
 
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