A few months ago I came across a blackish, rather odd looking catfish, that the LFS dude (a marine biologist) claimed was the dreaded Heteropeustes Fossilis, or Asian Stinging Catfish. It was in a 20 gallon with a Flowerhorn, and all it did was hide behind the undergravel filter tube. Over the next few weeks I came in several times & it was always in the same place. I asked the LFS dude about this fish & he said it was deadly poisonous, and that it quite commonly attacked rice paddy workers, occasionally killing them. He did not recommend that I keep this fish with other fish, and actually tried to dissuade from purchasing it. The more he tried the more I knew I had to get this fish & put it in my 90 gallon, with a 14" SA Lungfish, 10" Pike Cichlid, & 12" Wolf Cichlid, and 14" Pleco. I wanted to teach my Wolf Cichlid a lesson on manners and figured this was just the fish to her. LFS dude (owner too) was joking with the others about how his heart skipped a beat when he was netting it.
To my surprise, this "killer catfish" did not bother any of the other fish, nor did the other fish bother it. Since this was the only asian fish in my tank, I figured the SA fish would bully it, especially the Wolf Cichlid (that I am not too fond of, and is getting too large anyway). But even during night feedings -- the only time the HF really becomes active (and is quite swift & agile I might add) -- there hasn't been a problem.
I'm curious if other have kept this catfish & what their experiences have been. Have any others been successful at keeping them with other aggressive fish (I do have plenty of hiding places in the tank)? Are they really as poisonous as I've heard (e.g., the "deadly" Giant Asian Centipede at 10" is about as much a killer as the "dreaded" Honey Bee, based on personal experience)? Do some fish just instinctively know when not to f-ck with other fish (this fish certainly does not have menacing colors)? Are there any small fish I can get to teach my Wolf Cichlid her manners w/o worrying about the less aggressive other tank mates?
Also, does anyone know if a SA Wolf Fish (Hoplias Malabaricus) can live in brackish water (salinity of around 1.005)? I want to put him in with my "Freshwater" Snowflake Moray, but only if he can survive the salinity, hardness, and 8.0 alkalinity. Any thoughts on the subject (fish-huggers please refrain from your usual "tank-is-too-small" or "you-are-worse-than-Hitler" jibberish).
Happy New Year!
To my surprise, this "killer catfish" did not bother any of the other fish, nor did the other fish bother it. Since this was the only asian fish in my tank, I figured the SA fish would bully it, especially the Wolf Cichlid (that I am not too fond of, and is getting too large anyway). But even during night feedings -- the only time the HF really becomes active (and is quite swift & agile I might add) -- there hasn't been a problem.
I'm curious if other have kept this catfish & what their experiences have been. Have any others been successful at keeping them with other aggressive fish (I do have plenty of hiding places in the tank)? Are they really as poisonous as I've heard (e.g., the "deadly" Giant Asian Centipede at 10" is about as much a killer as the "dreaded" Honey Bee, based on personal experience)? Do some fish just instinctively know when not to f-ck with other fish (this fish certainly does not have menacing colors)? Are there any small fish I can get to teach my Wolf Cichlid her manners w/o worrying about the less aggressive other tank mates?
Also, does anyone know if a SA Wolf Fish (Hoplias Malabaricus) can live in brackish water (salinity of around 1.005)? I want to put him in with my "Freshwater" Snowflake Moray, but only if he can survive the salinity, hardness, and 8.0 alkalinity. Any thoughts on the subject (fish-huggers please refrain from your usual "tank-is-too-small" or "you-are-worse-than-Hitler" jibberish).
Happy New Year!
