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No federal permit to keepGiant tigerfish
Hydrocynus goliath
Fishes › Tetras, piranhas and pacus (Characiformes) › Alestidae (African tetras)
Hydrocynus goliath, commonly known as the goliath tigerfish, giant tigerfish, or mbenga, is a large species of African predatory freshwater fish in the family Alestidae.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: An adult reaches about 52.4 in (133 cm). That needs a pond or public-aquarium-scale system, far beyond a home aquarium.
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 73–79°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6.5–7.5.
- Hardness: 0–25 dGH.
- Layout: An open-water swimmer: needs long, open swimming space with few obstacles.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 75–82 °F, pH 6.5–7.5, 10–25 dGH.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “There is no need for any decor except perhaps a sandy base due to the speed and power of these fish.”
- Diet: “It is a piscivore by nature and many sources state that it will only feed on live fish.”
- Tankmates: “Should be kept alone, although juvenile fish do shoal.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
African tetras
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: African freshwater habitats range from the Congo drainage occupied by Congo tetras to large rivers and lakes inhabited by giant tigerfish. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Adult Congo tetras need at least 120 × 30 × 30 cm (about 48 × 12 × 12 inches).
- For Congo tetras, combine plants, floating vegetation and driftwood with open swimming space and good circulation.
- Congo-tetra source parameters are pH 6.0–7.5 and hardness 3–18 dGH; maintain consistently high water quality.
- Hydrocynus goliath needs a facility-scale system: the source suggests roughly 15,000 litres rather than a home aquarium.
- For giant tigerfish, prioritize oxygenation, clean water and open swimming space with minimal hard decor.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 73.4–82.4°F |
Diet
- For Congo tetras: suitable dried omnivore foods including algae-based foods.
- For Congo tetras: small live or frozen worms, insects and crustaceans.
- For tigerfish: appropriately sized dead fish such as whitebait.
Social life
- Congo tetras suit mixed-sex shoals with peaceful companions; fin-nippers damage male fins. Adult giant tigerfish should be kept alone and may attack smaller fish without warning.
Handling
- Giant tigerfish require professional separation and maintenance procedures because adults pose a serious bite hazard.
Health watch
- Ammonia toxicity.
- Nutritional deficiencies.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is native to the Congo River Basin and Lake Tanganyika in Africa.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Hydrocynus goliath” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Inhabits lakes and large rivers. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 73–79 °F (23–26 °C), pH 6.5–7.5, hardness 25 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 73–79 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 88°F (up to 89°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 65°F (down to 62°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 76–78°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 77–82% on average (driest month about 75%) |
| Rainfall | about 1577 mm a year |
Measured at 35 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Hydrocynus goliath, commonly known as the goliath tigerfish, giant tigerfish, or mbenga, is a large species of African predatory freshwater fish in the family Alestidae. It is native to the Congo River Basin and Lake Tanganyika in Africa. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Wild diet | Hydrocynus goliath is a piscivore, feeding on any fish it can overpower, including smaller members of the same species. Their huge, powerful, rigid teeth make them one of the most ferocious predators of the Congo basin, dangerous for the smaller fish they prey on as well as for the hunters who attempt to capture them for sport and for food. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | Despite being mostly solitary hunters, female goliath tigerfish migrate together and breed near each other on riverbanks or lakeshores. Thousands of eggs are laid among thick vegetation to protect the eggs and the young from predators, given that goliath tigerfish are not attentive parents. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Appearance and size | The goliath tigerfish has a characteristic silvery gray dorsum and flanks, with a thunniform body plan similar to that of tuna, featuring black adipose fins. The goliath tigerfish is described as the "Monster Fish of the Congo" by a 2008 documentary by National Geographic, a reflection of its monster-like qualities and of its perception by local people and hunters. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Inhabits lakes and large rivers. — FishBase |
| Conservation | The current conservation status of the goliath tigerfish is unknown, but it is listed as "least concern" according to the IUCN Red List's 2010 assessment. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Typical adult weight
Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as fork length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Water hardness
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish — Phenacogrammus interruptus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — Hydrocynus goliath Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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