Ok, So I Have A Wolf Fish- It Just Kinda Happened

[capester]

Hello everyone,
I have a a wolf fish, I saw him a month or so ago in a not so LFS and was intrigued as usually you see small specimens and often with damage for sale. This guy was 8" plus, stocky and fin perfect. I had just bought an African pike at the time and therefore did not buy him.....
Now, it was my birthday 2 days ago and I was working alone all day- I decided to nip into the said shop (by nip I mean take a 30 mile detour). Low and behold the fish was still there and a little larger. Safe in the knowledge that it was my birthday and therefore the missus couldn't go too mental I bought him. He/ she has a 5 foot tank at their disposal.
Now, my question is- at the shop they had had him/her since it was a couple of inches long and had been feeding it on any dead fish that occurred. I am wondering what the best diet would be and also the maximum size as the information I am reading differs greatly. Thanks

 

[nmonks]

In the wild these fish live in swamps, but they have a reputation for being rather delicate in captivity. Expert aquarists shouldn't have problems though, provided they understand the importance of a large aquarium, heavy filtration, and regular water changes. Realistically, you're after a tank at least 450 l/120 gallons in size, and filter turnover rates of at least 8 times the volume of the tank per hour. They jump out of tanks and being so large and strong, are very good at forcing their way out of flimsy lids; a lock or weights will be important. On the plus side, they eat a wide range of foods. If the pet shop has been feeding it fish that happened to be sick or dead in their tanks, then obviously your wolffish has been exposed to all sorts of parasites, so bear that in mind. Once settled wolffish take earthworms and river shrimps immediately, and after a while, tilapia fillet and all the other chunky fresh and wet-frozen foods. Obviously, if you use feeder fish, you need to breed your own and never, ever use cyprinids and other fat and/or thiaminase-rich foods (e.g., minnows, goldfish).

Cheers, Neale

 

[minnnt]

+1 on the dead fish... They could have died from anything so this would be exposing your fish to all sorts of diseases. I would say that was a bad idea, but it sounds like he has survived regardlessly, pretty well!

Also loving the replies from Neale, all of them are so informative and useful. Love reading your articles in PFK.

 

[nmonks]

Thanks for the kind words!

Cheers, Neale

Also loving the replies from Neale, all of them are so informative and useful. Love reading your articles in PFK.

 

[Squidward]

If the fish shop has been feeding the wolf on dead fish from other tanks, I would stay well away. You never know what diseases it may have picked up. It could well be "living on borrowed time".