What happens if you cross a great white shark with a piranha? Well, nothing, obviously, except perhaps the piranha gets eaten. But if you could, their offspring would likely be something like the goliath tigerfish. Known to locals as “mbenga”, or “demon fish”, the goliath tigerfish has a fearsome reputation. Think you’re safe swimming in freshwater (if you ignore the crocodiles and piranhas and the odd bullshark, of course)? Think again…

What Is A Goliath Tigerfish?

The goliath tigerfish is massive, highly predatory, freshwater fish, which can grow up to 1.5m (5ft) in length. Its jaws are packed with 2.5cm (1-inch) dagger-like teeth, which protrude from the front of its mouth. Its teeth and powerful jaws are made for slicing through prey, enabling it to bite its prey in half in one go! The goliath tigerfish has a strong, muscular body, covered in dark silver scales. Its fins are often tinged red and its face has a golden or olive sheen. Goliath tigerfish are prized by fisherman as one of the most challenging fish to catch. Not only are they intelligent, wary predators, but they are remarkably fast and strong, and have a tendency to bite right through fishing lines and tackle (and who can blame them?). Like sharks, goliath tigerfish are able to detect currents and vibrations in water, enabling them to sense the movement of their prey, even over large distances. This is thanks to an organ system known as the “lateral line”, a group of sensory organs running the length of the fish’s body.

What Do Goliath Tigerfish Eat?

Any fish they can, including each other. The only predator of mature goliath tigerfish is the Nile crocodile, placing them (almost) at the top of the food chain. Like great white sharks, goliath tigerfish are ambush predators. It is believed they use their keen eyesight to find and stalk their prey, before launching their attack, killing the prey in one or two devastating bites. Goliath tigerfish are also strong swimmers, which they use to their advantage in the more treacherous currents of the river, picking off weaker fish as they struggle against the current.

Where Do Goliath Tigerfish Live?

The goliath tigerfish is found only in the Congo River Basin in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They can be found throughout the river basin, in moving water and lakes alike, though the mature fish seem to prefer fast-moving currents. The goliath tigerfish is not a very well-researched animal, but it is believed juveniles tend to live in groups, likely for protection, whereas adult fish prefer to live alone.

Are Goliath Tigerfish Dangerous?

In short, yes. A large goliath tigerfish is certainly capable of causing serious injury, even death, to a human, and many an unwary fisherman has lost fingers to this fish. Goliath tigerfish, like most animals, are known to defend themselves when threatened, and there are even stories of them attempting to hunt humans, particularly children. There are several reports of goliath tigerfish attacks on humans, some of which were fatal, though these are difficult to verify. The most well-known accounts of such attacks were brought to light on Discovery’s TV show, “River Monsters”, presented by experienced angler and biologist, Jeremy Wade. One man described a fatal attack on his father, in which the fish he was trying to catch leapt out of the water and bit through his throat, killing him. Another story saw a child severely mauled while playing in the river. It is suspected that the fish was attracted to the shiny bottle caps she wore on her belt, which catch the light in the same way as the scales on fish.

Can You Keep Goliath Tigerfish As Pets?

In some countries or states, yes, but you probably shouldn’t. For one, goliath tigerfish are notoriously difficult to keep. Not only are they highly sensitive to pH, light, temperature, oxygen and nitrate levels, they will also eat just about anything you put in the tank with them, including your hands. Then there are the ethical issues. Is it really fair to put an intelligent, highly mobile predator in a tank which could never mimic the space, movement and excitement of its natural habitat, with absolutely nothing to do and nobody to kill? Probably not.

Are Goliath Tigerfish Endangered?

Despite only being found in one region in the world, the goliath tigerfish population is apparently thriving. These fish are actually considered “least concern” by the IUCN Red List. Nice to have a rare bit of good environmental news every now and again, isn’t it?