Silver-Tipped Shark Catfish (Arius jordani)

yoink

I love this fish. I bought at my local petsmart at 2 cm. It has grown to be about 5-6 inches within a year. Ever since I got it, whenever my friends come over, they love watching it and always ask what kinda fish is it cause it looks like a half shark, half catfish. What is really exciting is watching this monster eat. I feed it small pellets and flakes. It goes into a feeding frenzy, it thrashes around the tank and picks up anything on the bottom. Then after hes finished with the bottom feeding, he moves up to the top and grabs flakes like any other fish. If you don't have this fish in your tank, buy one. These fish are a treat. I have only a 29 gallon tank and he loves it.

James M.

Also known as the Colombian Shark or Christian Catfish. Although usually a tempting buy for beginners, the silver-tipped shark is a shoaling fish that attains the size of 12 to 18 inches. If this isn't enough to deter those interested in this active fish, it also requires a brackish instead of a freshwater setup as it matures.

rian

Silver-tipped shark Catfish is a schooling fish. So if you decide to get them get at least three of them they will be happier.

Danielle

I have a school of 5 Silver-Tipped Shark Catfish in a 56 Gal tank. They are doing wonderful. The biggest is 8 inches. I had bought 6 guppies from the pet store and read a little up on the catfish after they disappeared, come to find out that he is know for missing fish in the middle of the night!! Beware what you stock in your tank with these fish. They are an absolute joy to watch when feeding.

Jose

crabcake

i don't mean to be a stick in the mud, but i don't understand the species selection for this column(?). this is supposed to be a planted aquarium forum. Arius jordani seems like a bad choice for a planted tank.

cenecker

I hate to also be a stick in the mud, but PLEASE do your research before you purchase this all too common chain store staple. This fish is DISASTROUS in most tanks. This is mostly due to the fact that it is most commonly purchased by newbies.

This includes MYSELF. My first fish were a pair of these in a ten gallon tank. Three years later I had aquired four more and all exceeded 12". They were living in a kiddie pool because they had outgrown every tank I owned.

In addition to thier size this fish really needs to be kept in groups, and it is also a VERY active swimmer. As they mature they become very neurotic in a small tank (55 gals or less), constantly banging thier faces against the glass and occasionally spooking and attempting to leap out of the tank...no fun. Please have at least a 6 ft tank ready for these guys.

That aside...they are awesome fish! Can't beat the super cool "shark" look! Although "knowledgable" people will tell you they "require" brackish water as they mature or they will "develope skin problems" or just die, it is worth mentioning that all the larger, older specimens I've encountered have lived in pure freshwater. I'm certainly not arguing that brackish isn't thier natural environment, or that it would be best for them....it just may not be as important as people imply.

zachxbass

they also do fairly well in full marine. (SG 1.020 - 1.022 is what the LFS keeps them in) Not sure if this is bad for long term or not but several months and they are doing great.... better that the FW ones)

tnsser

60'' wow! they are supposed to get 12''