Goliath Tigerfish

Some people call the Goliath Tigerfish a “fish on steroids” or the African version of the piranha. But, whatever you call it, the Goliath tigerfish is one scary animal. These strong fish are considered ‘demon fish’ by some African tribespeople. While some aquarists keep them as exotic pets, it’s best to know how to handle them before taking the plunge.

Scientific Name

Goliath tigerfish are the largest members of the five species in the genus Hydrocynus. The first part of its scientific name, Hydrocynus goliath, comes from Greek, meaning hydro (water) and kyon (dog). However, some French-speaking African cultures call this fish “Poisson Chien” (dogfish) instead of tigerfish.

Evolution and Origins

The Goliath tigerfish is a member of the Alestidae family, which is found exclusively in Africa and includes the Congo tetra and African tigerfish. It belongs to the Characiformes order, which includes more than 2,000 different species. Its oldest member, Santanichthys, can be traced to the early Cretaceous (Albian stage) period, 113 million years to 100.5 million years ago.

The Goliath tigerfish is believed to have split from the genus Hydrocynus tigerfishes about 11 million years ago and created its own separate lineage.

Appearance

Goliath tigerfish are primarily olive on top and silvery on the bottom, but you will also find gradations of yellow, brown, and gray with a golden appearance around their faces. They also have an upright dorsal fin and three smaller fins below their bellies. Fully grown tigerfish are four to five feet long and weigh 90 to 100 pounds. Each tooth in the Goliath tigerfish’s mouth can be up to seven inches long, rivaling the size of teeth in many sharks.

Habitat

This tigerfish species lives in larger rivers and lakes in the Congo River basin, including the Lualaba River, Lake Upemba, and Lake Tanganyika. Africa is their sole habitat. As they are numerous in their native habitat, their conservation status is of Least Concern.

Experts recommend that only experienced aquarists keep Goliath tigerfish as pets in a home aquarium because of their aggressiveness. They are usually sold as juveniles, only three to six inches long, yet they require a large tank to grow properly. As these fish mature, you may have to eventually move them from an aquarium to a pond. Nevertheless, they won’t reach their biggest size as they would in the wild. You should not keep Goliath tigerfish with other smaller fish, as they will view their tank mates as food and eat them. They require water that is well-oxygenated with a moderate to strong current, as they are sensitive to water quality.

Diet

Goliath tigerfish are apex predators, meaning they have few animals that hunt them. When hunting, Goliath tigerfish use calmer eddies of rivers and lakes to ambush their prey. While these fish use their keen sight to detect their meals, they also have a unique ability to detect low-level frequencies, allowing them to sense when prey is nearby. Scientists also believe these fish use their powerful bite force to stun and kill their prey. They don’t use their massive teeth for chewing. Once they kill their prey, they swallow it whole. They hunt catfish, angelfish, cichlids, and gobies.

Predators and Threats

Although one is a fish and the other is a reptile, Goliath tigerfish and crocodiles share several characteristics. Both are fierce predators known to attack humans. They also have sets of long, pointed teeth. However, freshwater crocodiles are much bigger and stronger than Goliath tigerfish. The size of freshwater crocodiles averages from six to ten feet, while Goliath tigerfish top out at about four to five feet. In a fight between two fully grown animals, the crocodile would win due to its sheer size and strength, but not before losing a few pieces of its skin. Crocodiles will generally play a waiting game with Goliath tigerfish before planting a conclusive bite to kill the latter.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

Not much is known about how Goliath tigerfish reproduce, as scientists have not studied the species extensively. They usually spawn during summer when they find suitable breeding grounds, usually flooded riverbanks and shores. When they find a suitable spawning ground, female Goliath tigerfish can release up to 780,000 eggs at once. They tend to hide their nests in underwater vegetation, indicating juvenile tigerfish vulnerability. The hatchlings stay there until water levels force them out.

Baby tigerfish feed on plankton and slowly graduate to larger prey as they get older. Goliath tigerfish grow slowly at only four to six inches per year, so they can take up to 10 years to reach their full size. Breeding them in an aquarium is virtually impossible, so all Goliath tigerfish sold as pets are caught in the wild.

Goliath Tigerfish in Fishing and Cooking

Goliath tigerfish are considered a sportfishing species primarily. However, these giant fish can feed an entire African village when caught for food. They are whitefish, so their meat is tender and tasty. They are often grilled, fried, baked, and prepared in a similar manner to tilapia. Goliath tigerfish are strong fighters considered to be prized gamefish. They take almost any kind of bait and repeatedly jump when hooked, so a wire leader is necessary due to their sharp teeth.

Population and Conservation

There are no specific figures on how many Goliath tigerfish exist in the wild. However, as their International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List status is of Least Concern, one can assume that there are sufficient numbers of these fish in the wild. However, at the same time, local officials in Africa advise sport fishers to release Goliath tigerfish when possible.