Moving Large African Tiger Fish

[West1]

Thought I would post up just incase someone buys or needs to move a monster ATF.

In my experience w/large ATF, it's a challenge to catch a large/powerful/skittish torpedo.

I drained my tank (24"tall) to about 12" of water and SLOWLY moved in on him. He jumped and darted away from the trash bag I had and finally cornered him where he gave up.

Now... I've had 2 large ATF (14"+ Goliath & 16"+ VATF pics in my personal Gallery) and both went "belly up" the second they submitted. Looked just like the Extra Large Goliath on River Monsters on Jeremy wades episode. I truly believe when they give up and it's not the end of their life or signs of death/dying that it's some crazy way of a reflex or some type of skittish behavior.

Both were successfully transferred and acclimated and are still currently alive. It took about 10-20 min of non human interaction for them to go right side up again. I drove one way w/the large VATF for about an hour and he was belly up (assuming the whole ride) when he was about 9".

This is just my experience w/large ATF and thought id post it up for reference.

I know there is a sticky being formed and this can get added (to lazy to search for it Lol).

Any other large ATF owners, please verify if you have tried to move them

Thanks for looking
E

 

[lix.ma14]

interesting!

 

[caribemob]

quick question west1 what size tank is your vatf in?

 

[sashimimaster]

Maybe it's some type of possum reflex....

 

[yodaLBC]

interesting...thanks for sharing!

 

[_Jessica_]

I've never dealt with ATF but I've seen this behavior in bala sharks, chinese algae eaters, and spiney eels when being netted. I've never seen anything written about it...I always assumed it was stress related hyperventilation/panic attack/shock.

 

[doviiman]

Thought I would post up just incase someone buys or needs to move a monster ATF.

In my experience w/large ATF, it's a challenge to catch a large/powerful/skittish torpedo.

I drained my tank (24"tall) to about 12" of water and SLOWLY moved in on him. He jumped and darted away from the trash bag I had and finally cornered him where he gave up.

Now... I've had 2 large ATF (14"+ Goliath & 16"+ VATF pics in my personal Gallery) and both went "belly up" the second they submitted. Looked just like the Extra Large Goliath on River Monsters on Jeremy wades episode. I truly believe when they give up and it's not the end of their life or signs of death/dying that it's some crazy way of a reflex or some type of skittish behavior.

Both were successfully transferred and acclimated and are still currently alive. It took about 10-20 min of non human interaction for them to go right side up again. I drove one way w/the large VATF for about an hour and he was belly up (assuming the whole ride) when he was about 9".

This is just my experience w/large ATF and thought id post it up for reference.

I know there is a sticky being formed and this can get added (to lazy to search for it Lol).

Any other large ATF owners, please verify if you have tried to move them

Thanks for looking
E

Hey West1

Man those are some beautiful photo's of your fish especially the Vatt, I am going to make you my honorary mentor on ATF's
Thank you thus far for all the advice you have giving me on ATF's, and I have a nice 5in Vatt currently, he is a blast to watch eats. I also have a GATF due to arrive Wednesday, I'll post pic when he's settle in. I am trying to power feed him like i did my Armatus, and doign frequent water chages, though I no they grow much slower, I am hoping to accelerate this some how. And you are correct the Vatt's do look nicer at a larger size, but their head structure/jaw line is not as angry looking as the GATF.
Keep, the info coming...

 

[Mr.AzulBass]

Wow great to know Wes thanks. not too worried about my 6" vatf yet but thats a great thing to know for when the time comes and it will come.

 

[West1]

quick question west1 what size tank is your vatf in?

He WAS in a 300 (8x30"deepx24"tall) till he told me it was time to upgrade or let him go
Hardest thing I ever did in my fish run! Almost took me out the game .
Sure hurts raising something for 3+ years n have to give him up due to not ready for an upgrade

Maybe it's some type of possum reflex....

Something... To me it confirmed it when I seen the monster with Jeremy Wade and it hit me like a tin of bricks!!! I wonder if that monster would of survived or if the shots he took under water got the best of him?

interesting...thanks for sharing!

. I would be selfish not to share (you can PayPal me later Ahahaa)

I've never dealt with ATF but I've seen this behavior in bala sharks, chinese algae eaters, and spiney eels when being netted. I've never seen anything written about it...I always assumed it was stress related hyperventilation/panic attack/shock.

Cool, don't think I've ever owned any of those species so I probably would of never found out if it wasn't for my SON (VATF)

Hey West1

Man those are some beautiful photo's of your fish especially the Vatt, I am going to make you my honorary mentor on ATF's
Thank you thus far for all the advice you have giving me on ATF's, and I have a nice 5in Vatt currently, he is a blast to watch eats. I also have a GATF due to arrive Wednesday, I'll post pic when he's settle in. I am trying to power feed him like i did my Armatus, and doign frequent water chages, though I no they grow much slower, I am hoping to accelerate this some how. And you are correct the Vatt's do look nicer at a larger size, but their head structure/jaw line is not as angry looking as the GATF.
Keep, the info coming...

Thanks, you can thank apple for giving me the confidence to snap a few w/my old 3GS Lol.
Let's not get ahead of ourselfs w/the mentor situation Lol... I have trouble telling the difference between FATF/BATF and the big eye Wes (Fugupuff) speaks of Lol. Any Q's I can answer I will do my best but will likely be just opinions or experience w/the character of my old ATF's (so remember every fish is slightly different ).

For diet, I had best results from the StingRay section. Pellets/Pellets n meaty foods. I fed Cichlid gold n massive delight before the gelatin mix that he loved!!

Wow great to know Wes thanks. not too worried about my 6" vatf yet but thats a great thing to know for when the time comes and it will come.

Ehh... Trust me. When you enjoy something time flys bye!! And when it does n your not ready, it HURTS (hint to start saving now )!!

 

[SumoNinja]

mine was only about a foot, but i didn't see it do that when i moved it to my new house nor did it do it when i sold it to john

maybe you dropped some of your magic brownies in the water