Tankbusters & Co.' - Do you really know what you are taking on?

 

All too often though, people seem to purchase fish that really shouldn't be available for the average fishkeeper. Often these are food-fish that are farmed for the table but find their way into the supply chain due to their low price and often appealing nature when young. Examples that leap to mind are the 'Iridescent Shark' (Pangasius hypophthalmus) that are often seen for sale as tiny juveniles, before reaching their maximum length of over a metre. Many of these fishes can possibly damage themselves as a result of being kept in small aquaria - they're extremely prone to panic and will thump against the glass at full speed. The other prime suspect on the aquarium owner's least wanted is the piranha look-alike Red Pacu (Piaractus brachypomus) which grows to a completely impractical 70 cm plus and fills the tanks of public aquariums up and down the country. These are closely related to piranha but naturally feed on fruit and nuts in their Amazonian natural habitat, mimicking their toothy cousins in an attempt to hide from predators. As they grow, they lose the attractive red-belly and gain a jaw strength that allows them to eat Brazil nuts and peach stones. A bite from an adult pacu could really mess up your day! Both of these fish tend to surprise their owners when they very quickly outgrow their tank. These are wonderful fishes in the right surroundings but need a large tropical pond or better still, their native habitat to thrive. 

 

 

Another couple of species also show up with depressing regularity and are destined to be passed from one owner to another. Gouramies are familiar community aquarium inhabitants and so it comes as a surprise to many that the Giant Gourami (Osphronemus goramy) is capable of growing to a very hefty 70 cm and leaves behind its sleek pointed nose to grow into a face that only its owner could love. Like the smaller members of the family, this is a fish of still water and so can be kept in smaller systems than the more active species listed above but would still make a tank the size of a three-seat sofa look small! Staying with the South-east Asian air breathing theme, the Red, or Giant Snakehead (Channa micropeltes) is a metre long bruiser that really made it difficult for some of its smaller relatives to get a toe-hold in the aquarium hobby. Equipped with serious teeth and an antisocial attitude, this predator can inflict some major damage to tank mates and fishkeepers alike. They make great pets - but these fish represent a serious long-term commitment in terms of space and care. 

 

 

Long ago in my fishkeeping career, I remember a time when big catfish were 'all the rage'. In something of a mania, large predatory Pimelodid catfishes went from being the preserve of the fanatic to becoming a staple in many aquarium outlets. Everyone wanted a baby Redtail or Tiger shovel but did those cute little fish grow! To give them their full names, the Red-tailed Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) and the Tiger Shovelnose Catfishes (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) are still superb fishes that break the hearts of hundreds of aquarists who buy babies and watch them outgrow their facilities. The finger-length juveniles that you see in shops can double their size in a matter of weeks and are generally sleek, beautiful predators that deserve the correct facilities. Once you've kept a Redtail, you'll know how great they are and why people go to the trouble and expense to convert their garages and/or spare rooms to house them in the palatial accommodation that they deserve. I must confess a massive soft spot for these fishes, even though I've had one attempt to swallow my arm but then I was holding a freshly-thawed trout at the time... 

 

 

So, we can see that all of these fish make great inhabitants of the type of aquaria that normally are found at zoos and other public facilities so if you have the room and the budget then perhaps they are for you. We routinely have to find homes for specimens that are often abandoned by their owners due to the fact that most of the outlets still selling these species generally lack the room to house returned specimens. So if you have a few thousand pounds and an awful lot of room then consider a tropical pond for some of those homeless tankbusters out there. If not, plan your purchases so you never find that you have a small tank and big fish - buy the right size tank and then watch your fish fill it, if you'll pardon the pun!