Not so gentle giant: Super Aggressive Giraffe Catfish..

[Abyss]

My Giraffe Catfish has become super aggressive over the last few months.

He is sparring daily with my pink Giant Gourami.

He often chases my Silver Dollars too, but nothing too serious.

Also, he really hates my fire eel - whenever he sees it, he will chase it.

The Giraffe is appox 2ft in length. I've had him from about 10". The Giant Gourami (which is the main opponent) is approx 2ft as well. The Fire eel is also about 2ft in length (though obviously much smaller).

Tank is 9ft. 1500L.

There is also a smaller Giraffe Cat in there that I've had since about 2" - he is about 12" now. I plan on selling him at some point. He has shown no signs of aggression yet.

Is this something that happens with Giraffe Cats? I was under the impression they were gentle giants? Because of his mouth shape, he isn't really doing any damage thankfully, but he is boisterous and no doubt causing the other fish stress. He's sucking more than anything. He is 100% the aggressor.

Could it be a space issue? The other Giraffe Cat causing it (I understand you are meant to keep on own?) Competition for food? (the Giant Gourami loves the pellets that the Giraffe cat mostly eats). I just don't know.

 

[Fishman Dave]

I have two around 2ft but they have a floor plan of almost 80square foot. They do get on but occasionally chase each other. Never seen the Girraffes chase anything except each other, certainly not the gouramis although I have a 2ft black shark too which is the overall bully. Sounds to me very much like a potential space issue. All fish have their own temperaments and even gentle giants have the odd bullies. It might be that the solution is to move on the larger one and see if the second grows up with better temperament?

 

[Nilsafeller]

I have two around 2ft but they have a floor plan of almost 80square foot. They do get on but occasionally chase each other. Never seen the Girraffes chase anything except each other, certainly not the gouramis although I have a 2ft black shark too which is the overall bully. Sounds to me very much like a potential space issue. All fish have their own temperaments and even gentle giants have the odd bullies. It might be that the solution is to move on the larger one and see if the second grows up with better temperament?

Good point... I have a giant red tail and hes calm with everything except the red hook silver dollar I had... he would go after him all the time... all fish have their own minds so if I were you I'd say the same... move the big guy out and keep the smaller otherwise you'll continuously have problems that you'll never fix

 

[RemainVayne]

No other stock or living conditions changed since his mood flipped?

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

It might have to do with the breeding season. If so, it will pass as suddenly as it came on.

I am surprised that the smaller gcat is not the main receiver of the "love".

Neither have I seen any aggression from our gcats except to each other and even that is not vicious but they are in 4500 gal, six of them 18"-22".

I agree that space always dilutes aggression when the fish can get out of each other's face.

 

[Abyss]

Thanks guys. Tank is 9ft x 2.5ft x 2ft. So not the smallest of tanks, but also these are big fish like mentioned.

I think its sound advice about fish having personalities, and as much as I don't want to hear it...it would be wise to move the bigger giraffe on.

Nothing has changed in the tank in terms of decor or stock, for perhaps a year. (excluding one death when my arowana decided to chomp a shark )

It's just that, I've had him now for 2 years, and he was actually a rescue from a local shop. Someone dumped him and a load of other fish (oscars, arowana etc etc) in a bucket on the shop's door. Every other fish died in the shop, and he was very near death. He had bloody sores and marks all over him, and wasn't eating. He was skinny and lethargic. They let me have him for free, knowing what tank I had. Now he's massive, fat and obviously fairly rambunctious. It's hard to move on a fish with a story like that, one that I feel I saved - especially considering these fish have such personable characters.

WHAT I HAVE DONE...I rearranged the wood in the tank (hard with big fish), but there is now considerable cover. It has all but stopped the aggression. Whereas it was happening nearly all day, I've seen in maybe twice in the last couple of weeks. I'd previously noted the giraffe was spending a lot of time swimming at the top, in the Gourami's space....this has almost separated them.

 

[RemainVayne]

Thanks guys. Tank is 9ft x 2.5ft x 2ft. So not the smallest of tanks, but also these are big fish like mentioned.

I think its sound advice about fish having personalities, and as much as I don't want to hear it...it would be wise to move the bigger giraffe on.

Nothing has changed in the tank in terms of decor or stock, for perhaps a year. (excluding one death when my arowana decided to chomp a shark )

It's just that, I've had him now for 2 years, and he was actually a rescue from a local shop. Someone dumped him and a load of other fish (oscars, arowana etc etc) in a bucket on the shop's door. Every other fish died in the shop, and he was very near death. He had bloody sores and marks all over him, and wasn't eating. He was skinny and lethargic. They let me have him for free, knowing what tank I had. Now he's massive, fat and obviously fairly rambunctious. It's hard to move on a fish with a story like that, one that I feel I saved - especially considering these fish have such personable characters.

WHAT I HAVE DONE...I rearranged the wood in the tank (hard with big fish), but there is now considerable cover. It has all but stopped the aggression. Whereas it was happening nearly all day, I've seen in maybe twice in the last couple of weeks. I'd previously noted the giraffe was spending a lot of time swimming at the top, in the Gourami's space....this has almost separated them.

Wow that is quite the story. I understand how hard of a decision it must be, but it sounds like you're thinking of the other inhabitants too.

Just don't leave him in a bucket of water somewhere!

 

[Nilsafeller]

Thanks guys. Tank is 9ft x 2.5ft x 2ft. So not the smallest of tanks, but also these are big fish like mentioned.

I think its sound advice about fish having personalities, and as much as I don't want to hear it...it would be wise to move the bigger giraffe on.

Nothing has changed in the tank in terms of decor or stock, for perhaps a year. (excluding one death when my arowana decided to chomp a shark )

It's just that, I've had him now for 2 years, and he was actually a rescue from a local shop. Someone dumped him and a load of other fish (oscars, arowana etc etc) in a bucket on the shop's door. Every other fish died in the shop, and he was very near death. He had bloody sores and marks all over him, and wasn't eating. He was skinny and lethargic. They let me have him for free, knowing what tank I had. Now he's massive, fat and obviously fairly rambunctious. It's hard to move on a fish with a story like that, one that I feel I saved - especially considering these fish have such personable characters.

WHAT I HAVE DONE...I rearranged the wood in the tank (hard with big fish), but there is now considerable cover. It has all but stopped the aggression. Whereas it was happening nearly all day, I've seen in maybe twice in the last couple of weeks. I'd previously noted the giraffe was spending a lot of time swimming at the top, in the Gourami's space....this has almost separated them.

Damn bruh lol I hear what your saying! If you can keep messing with decor or adding hiding spots or something to get it to work out than keep trying... I have fish I would never get rid of either for my own reasons and will do whatever I need to, to keep them with me.