A fahaka would own all... I think a wolfish would destroy a snakehead to be honest.. I have owned both.. all three actually
Pound for Pound toughest fish?
- Thread starter rumblesushi
- Start date
Puffers don't really have the killing instinct that the other Predators do. If you were to put a large puffer in with a large dovii.. The Dovii would be much more quick and agile, and instantly lace into the puffer (and probably stun himself) but make him puff up immediately. Granted, Puffers have the biggest bite of any fish, pound for pound (FW), but they don't have that berzerk go out and attack anything mentality.
If you consider it a matter of weight, you have to look at the Snakeheads body shape in comparison to most other predators. He is going to weigh less but be just as viscious at maximum size. Red Devils, Dovii's, Umbee's will all weigh a considerable amount, in comparison to a slender bodied giant snakehead.
I would be more interested in the match verse snakeheads and perhaps a lungfish, but lungfish don't have that berzerk attitude either. Big difference between a 'large predator' and 'a crazy whacked out bite your face off predator'..
Just a few things to think about. I am sure we are not considering alot of factors, so I don't know exactly who would win. I heard Aba Aba knifes are quite nasty too, and as long and streamline as they are, they will not weigh as much.
I would go with Channa, Dovii, Aba Aba.. I guess ?
If you consider it a matter of weight, you have to look at the Snakeheads body shape in comparison to most other predators. He is going to weigh less but be just as viscious at maximum size. Red Devils, Dovii's, Umbee's will all weigh a considerable amount, in comparison to a slender bodied giant snakehead.
I would be more interested in the match verse snakeheads and perhaps a lungfish, but lungfish don't have that berzerk attitude either. Big difference between a 'large predator' and 'a crazy whacked out bite your face off predator'..
Just a few things to think about. I am sure we are not considering alot of factors, so I don't know exactly who would win. I heard Aba Aba knifes are quite nasty too, and as long and streamline as they are, they will not weigh as much.
I would go with Channa, Dovii, Aba Aba.. I guess ?
Miles, which would you favor? the snakehead or a bowfin? the snakehead has the rep, both have the bite, though I think the bowfin has stronger jaws, the bowfin is better armor but probably slower. Pretty much the same niche. The definition of aggressive seems to vary from person to person, puffers might be aggressive because of their picking on others, bowfins might be agressive because they chomp things inthe night, frogmouth cats and marbled sleepers almost never move but sometimes eat fish as big as they are and take a few hours or more to get it all swallowed, but are they agressive?
Snakeheads have sturdier teeth than bowfins. A professor at my U. has a skull of what was problably a near-3' bowfin; the teeth are similar to this SH's pic, but not as thick-- more slender.
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/art2002/snakeheadgiant22inhead.jpg
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/art2002/snakeheadgiant22inhead.jpg
It's so hard to say, with all of the regional differences.
To be honest, I have never seen or kept bowfin's in person, but have read about their nasty demeanor. I have however seen a 12" snakehead almost instantly inhale a 10" pike. (In which both fish died in the incident..owner was a tard for trying to put them togethor) So thats why I would probably have to lean towards SH.
Also, Bowfins are native to N. America right? I thought we were keeping this discussion in the terms of home aquaria and 'tropical' species. Perhaps I am being ignorant, and species of bowfin do exist in tropical climates. However, if we are taking US Native fish into consideration then we left out a HUGE amount of fish (Many we don't know much about probably).. Then you would have arguments about Tiger Muskies, and Northern Pikes, and who else knows what other crazy cold water creature would be 'Nutzo' in home aquaria?
Since N. American native fish are not kept that often, or observed as often as the 'Popular' predators (Cichlids, Primitives, Puffers, etc), then we really have no way to gauge what fish would be the most aggressive in home aquaria. I am NOT trying to de-rail this thread and bring native fish into the mix, I would prefer to keep it based on fish that are COMMONLY kept by monster fish keepers accross the world.
I was wondering about the marbled sleeper goby today, as well as some of the nastier catfish. However, I try to visualize in my mind what would happen... Say you take 2 fish, drop them in a 90g tank at the same time, and who wins? I would have to put my money on a Channa or a Cichlidae because they would regain their surrounds quicker, and realize they need to establish territory ASAP. Gobies, Puffers, Lungs, Primitive fish would all be in a state of shock, and their first instinct would be to find cover and become 'settled' in their new surrounds..
That is why I visualize a Channa or Cichlid going after one of these less 'territorial' fish, before that fish can get a chance to react. Hence, the Fahaka Puffer getting demolished by a Channa, due to the Puffers natural reaction to change in environment. The puffer (or alot of the other preds mentioned) will not have the mentality to react and become territorial, nor the ability to flare gills and lock jaws in confrontation.
If they both have the ability to become established, and then a divider is removed, it can be a different story. I still feel that the puffer would not instantly attack anything, but rather bite out of curiosity. The channa on the other hand, will be WAITING for the divider to be removed, so it can 'claim' the other half of that tank.
Interesting scenario: 90g tank, divided in half. One side houses the most aggressive Channa Sp, the other side houses a Dovii cichlid. They both weigh the same. You both let them become established for 2-3 days. Divider removed, who wins?
I noticed no one has mentioned Managuense in this either, however after attempting to put a big Jag and a big Oscar togethor, I would not add the Jag to this list. Unfortunetly this Oscar has a serious attitude problem, and actually went mouth-to-mouth with the Jag and won. I was extremely saddened, especially since this Jag was the most aggressive one I have ever seen. (Would jump a foot out of the water to bite you.). Later on that same Oscar got his fins shredded over night by a Red Devil of similiar size. Each case was an isolated scenario though, in which other fish may have played a roll, or perhaps the order in which they were introduced. Remember though, Jaguar cichlids are not incredebily thick or broad bodied, so if it were to attempt to fight an Oscar or Red Devil of the same Weight, it would own it, IMO. Jags sure are nasty for there 'medium' size, IMO.. and Convicts are nuts for their 'small' size also..
So who would win between Dovii and Red Devil? What other crazy large cichlid am I forgetting?
Also, I have not had alot of experience with Wolf Fish.. Will they flare gills and fight with a channa? I know their teeth have the ability to puncture, which could disable a channa quite fast. However, would the Wolf Fish just sit their and wait for the Channa to make his move? In that time the Channa could possible disable (or stun) the Wolf Fish long enough to finish
him off.. Tough Call.
Remember, try to visualize what would actually happen between the 2 fish. Some fish have a natural instinct, that other 'Predators' don't. Usually the fish with the insinct to claim as much territory as fast as they can, will have the upper hand. Regardless of how powerful or fast the other fish is, if it's not ready to throw down immediately, it's going to get stunned, disabled, and killed pretty fast.
Damn, this is like UFC for fish.
Too bad we can't cheat, or I would go with an Electric Eel
To be honest, I have never seen or kept bowfin's in person, but have read about their nasty demeanor. I have however seen a 12" snakehead almost instantly inhale a 10" pike. (In which both fish died in the incident..owner was a tard for trying to put them togethor) So thats why I would probably have to lean towards SH.
Also, Bowfins are native to N. America right? I thought we were keeping this discussion in the terms of home aquaria and 'tropical' species. Perhaps I am being ignorant, and species of bowfin do exist in tropical climates. However, if we are taking US Native fish into consideration then we left out a HUGE amount of fish (Many we don't know much about probably).. Then you would have arguments about Tiger Muskies, and Northern Pikes, and who else knows what other crazy cold water creature would be 'Nutzo' in home aquaria?
Since N. American native fish are not kept that often, or observed as often as the 'Popular' predators (Cichlids, Primitives, Puffers, etc), then we really have no way to gauge what fish would be the most aggressive in home aquaria. I am NOT trying to de-rail this thread and bring native fish into the mix, I would prefer to keep it based on fish that are COMMONLY kept by monster fish keepers accross the world.
I was wondering about the marbled sleeper goby today, as well as some of the nastier catfish. However, I try to visualize in my mind what would happen... Say you take 2 fish, drop them in a 90g tank at the same time, and who wins? I would have to put my money on a Channa or a Cichlidae because they would regain their surrounds quicker, and realize they need to establish territory ASAP. Gobies, Puffers, Lungs, Primitive fish would all be in a state of shock, and their first instinct would be to find cover and become 'settled' in their new surrounds..
That is why I visualize a Channa or Cichlid going after one of these less 'territorial' fish, before that fish can get a chance to react. Hence, the Fahaka Puffer getting demolished by a Channa, due to the Puffers natural reaction to change in environment. The puffer (or alot of the other preds mentioned) will not have the mentality to react and become territorial, nor the ability to flare gills and lock jaws in confrontation.
If they both have the ability to become established, and then a divider is removed, it can be a different story. I still feel that the puffer would not instantly attack anything, but rather bite out of curiosity. The channa on the other hand, will be WAITING for the divider to be removed, so it can 'claim' the other half of that tank.
Interesting scenario: 90g tank, divided in half. One side houses the most aggressive Channa Sp, the other side houses a Dovii cichlid. They both weigh the same. You both let them become established for 2-3 days. Divider removed, who wins?
I noticed no one has mentioned Managuense in this either, however after attempting to put a big Jag and a big Oscar togethor, I would not add the Jag to this list. Unfortunetly this Oscar has a serious attitude problem, and actually went mouth-to-mouth with the Jag and won. I was extremely saddened, especially since this Jag was the most aggressive one I have ever seen. (Would jump a foot out of the water to bite you.). Later on that same Oscar got his fins shredded over night by a Red Devil of similiar size. Each case was an isolated scenario though, in which other fish may have played a roll, or perhaps the order in which they were introduced. Remember though, Jaguar cichlids are not incredebily thick or broad bodied, so if it were to attempt to fight an Oscar or Red Devil of the same Weight, it would own it, IMO. Jags sure are nasty for there 'medium' size, IMO.. and Convicts are nuts for their 'small' size also..
So who would win between Dovii and Red Devil? What other crazy large cichlid am I forgetting?
Also, I have not had alot of experience with Wolf Fish.. Will they flare gills and fight with a channa? I know their teeth have the ability to puncture, which could disable a channa quite fast. However, would the Wolf Fish just sit their and wait for the Channa to make his move? In that time the Channa could possible disable (or stun) the Wolf Fish long enough to finish
him off.. Tough Call.
Remember, try to visualize what would actually happen between the 2 fish. Some fish have a natural instinct, that other 'Predators' don't. Usually the fish with the insinct to claim as much territory as fast as they can, will have the upper hand. Regardless of how powerful or fast the other fish is, if it's not ready to throw down immediately, it's going to get stunned, disabled, and killed pretty fast.
Damn, this is like UFC for fish.
Too bad we can't cheat, or I would go with an Electric Eel
After looking at that closeup of the snakeheads teeth, of course it would own any Cichlid. I mean what else can contend with that at the same weight?
This might sound crazy but after owning a few calvus....I'd throw one of them in the ring....pound for pound.... I've watched many take some hard shots from much larger fish and they just don't seem to care until the irritation reaches a point and then they go turbo ape$hit for 5 seconds and it's all done. Thier skin structure is just plain made for it....it feels like fine roofing shingles practically
guppy said:
My opinion is the bowfin would own the snakehead. A little story about a bowfin experience from back in late January 2004. A friend and I were down in Jasper county doing a fish survey for a consultant in some swamps they want to protect for a nature trail. We had stopped by one of our regular sites to get a baseline on what was out at this time of year. The previous May, we had been chased out of this site by a 10ft gator (they look alot bigger when you're chest deep in the water than from a boat). Anyway, we were seining around the same spot as the gator had been but since the temp was in the mid 30's we weren't to concerned. Suddenly Dustin's eyes get really big and he says "something hit me in the leg...HARD!" I kinds think to myself "yeah right....chicken" when I get nailed in my legs, three times! I see a wake cut across in front of the seine and holler (in a high-pitched girly voice) "lift the seine, lift the seine!" When we lifted it, there was a brightly colored male bowfin about 20" in length. Knowing Riverbanks Zoo wanted one to display in their tank, we took it back to them and it's now happily swimming around one of their tanks along with a couple of longnose gar, a small alligator gar, a large bluecat (~30 lbs), and several species of sunfish. The bowfin now rules this tank.
I had heard that male bowfin will protect their nest but would never have believed they would go after humans and I've got bite marks in my waders to prove it. Never heard of a snakehead doing anything like this.
Chip in SC
