Hoplias malabaricus

[Jaycee]

I am really confused. Most of the very limited stuff on line describes these fish as very inactive fish and most people who I have seen keeping them have the same thing. Some people describe them as furniture .

So I get my 6" fish and put him into a blackwater aquarium with floating plants and no real good hiding spaces on bottom and he is super active. He could not be more predatory and aggressive too. Is this normal or is the info mostly from people who keep the fish in super bright tanks?

 

[kno4te]

Once they get larger they act this way. If it’s is till active then great. Hope it keeps this way.

 

[headbanger_jib]

Out of the three hoplias malabaricus I have kept, they get real active and in your face.

During feeding times, I am extra careful to keep my fingers away from the water surface.

Here's a video of mine.

 

[moe214]

I am really confused. Most of the very limited stuff on line describes these fish as very inactive fish and most people who I have seen keeping them have the same thing. Some people describe them as furniture .

So I get my 6" fish and put him into a blackwater aquarium with floating plants and no real good hiding spaces on bottom and he is super active. He could not be more predatory and aggressive too. Is this normal or is the info mostly from people who keep the fish in super bright tanks?

Majority aren't active, especialy when larger. I've only had one that hovered around the tank all day at a larger size.

 

[Jaycee]

Majority aren't active, especialy when larger. I've only had one that hovered around the tank all day at a larger size.

I see. It should be interesting to see how he pans out. He is very active and very aggressive. He is probably the most aggressive fish that I have ever kept, though it is early days.

He has zero fear of tank cleaning tools and actually attacks the condensation that drops from my canopy before I even get a chance to feed him.

 

[Irecruitfish]

I have owned know for 8 months and it's extremely active. Follows me around, stalks my hand during water changes etc.

I'm planning on adding a few tankmates and will see how things play out.

 

[nzafi]

Just make sure your tank is well covered. These guys are jumpers and they will leap to their death.

 

[Irecruitfish]

Just make sure your tank is well covered. These guys are jumpers and they will leap to their death.

Right on. This is my second wolf. First one managed to jump between a very tiny space between the HOB filter and lid. They can also jump at your face as I personally found out. My current tank is 100% covered.

 

[moe214]

I see. It should be interesting to see how he pans out. He is very active and very aggressive. He is probably the most aggressive fish that I have ever kept, though it is early days.

He has zero fear of tank cleaning tools and actually attacks the condensation that drops from my canopy before I even get a chance to feed him.

It's very rare for hoplias species to be skittish, I've always had to push them out the way during waterchanges because they just don't care what's coming their way. As far as it attacking water droplets, I notice that with majority of predatory characins I've kept. They like the disturbance and think it's food.

As the guys mentioned, wolves can be jumpy, but ime it is always for a reason. I only ever had one wolf jump out of the tank on me, he was running from a slightly larger Asian RTC. I've had one erythrinus try to jump out due to a broken heater. Wolves tend to break heaters as well ime.