# Fish folks: what's your favorite (semi?)aggressive FRESHwater fish? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 16, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087 "2011-11-16T03:33:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/1 "2011-11-16T03:33:24Z")
I have a tank with some tiger barbs, a rainbow shark … and some shrimp. Now, I’ve kept tigers before. They are mean %&\*#s, and so are the rainbow sharks. I’ve also had shrimp - ghost shrimp, five or six for a dollar. They’re practically invisible but kind of fascinating to watch as they shrimpy themselves about the tank, cleaning up. I like them - they function as a janitorial service until, well, they serve as a meal. No biggie. Circle of life. I was warned the last time I bought some ghost shrimp that some other species had gotten mixed in. I swear he said Gulf shrimp, but that would imply salt water, no? :dubious: (This is a freshwater tank.) ANYWAY … One of the shrimp grew. And grew. One night he molted and HE GREW. Then he grew some more. And _more_. The fucking thing is now as long as my hand is wide and his antennae span as long as I can thumbtip to pinkytip\* and he OWNS the tank. Even the rainbow shark won’t mess with him. I’ll post pics when I can - he’s impressive. Originally I thought, “Eh, he gets too big, I’ll feed the shrimp to the cats.” Now? Oh, \*hell \*no. He’s more entertaining than TV! Which is a long way of asking … The tiger barbs aren’t standing up to him the way they used to. (Um … finning up?) Anyway … I need something MORE aggressive than tiger barbs. I have two requirements, which until now the tigers met: - I have a 10-gallon freshwater tank. No brackish water, nothing that gets big enough to require a larger tank. Small schooling fish are my preference. - somewhat pretty. (A girl has her dreams!) Any ideas? Thoughts? Suggestions? - Admit it - how many of you glanced down? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/2 "2011-11-16T03:36:54Z")
Is he a mantis shrimp? I’ve heard scary stories about how they sneak into tanks with other species and then get huge and take over. Though in some stories, they just come out at night so fish tank owners see their fish disappearing but have no idea why… ---
**Author:** ![conurepete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@conurepete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conurepete)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/3 "2011-11-16T03:43:39Z")
My favorite is the lungfish in the straight dope thread that broke out of the tank and went after the doper’s dad. I may be mis- remembering. I think the Doper was Phouka or floaty gimpy . My search fu is weak, my humble apologies. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/4 "2011-11-16T04:57:29Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Is he a mantis shrimp? I’ve heard scary stories about how they sneak into tanks with other species and then get huge and take over. Though in some stories, they just come out at night so fish tank owners see their fish disappearing but have no idea why… Those aren’t shrimp though. Just like how the sharks mentioned here don’t really look like sharks and aren’t related. They look more like lobsters. Scary Lovecraftian lobsters. They are mostly (all?) saltwater, too. We had a fish once: googling suggests it’s one of those rainbow sharks. I don’t remember them being that aggressive, though. The tank had a lid, and the only open part was a small area where the pump enters. So one day a shark went missing, and we found him semi-dessicated on the ground. He essentially climbed a waterfall to get out. The real kind of our tank was an albino channel catfish. They aren’t aggressive, i.e. actively. But things that go near their mouth disappear. We had to give him away due to explosive growth vs. the tank size. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/5 "2011-11-16T17:37:08Z")
The tiger barbs in one of my tanks were almost neurotic with their aggression and constant establishment of the chain of dominance until I gave them a blue gourami to play with. They have since settled down and generally keep out of his way. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/6 "2011-11-16T19:20:37Z")
All the freshwater shrimp I know of are pretty small and easygoing, so I’m wondering if your new big nasty crustacean overlord is a crayfish. Has it got pinchies on the first three pairs of legs or just the first? If it has three pairs of clawed legs it’s a cray; if not, I’m stumped 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/7 "2011-11-16T19:39:13Z")
As for tankmates, freshwater angels are pretty and sufficiently bad-tempered. You might want to check out [LiveAquaria](http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=830) because it has the care, temperament, description and everything of more fish than you can shake a stick at. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/8 "2011-11-16T20:25:12Z")
Could be an Amano? If so, he’s full sized by now, and shoudl live peacefully with any healthy tankmate. Did his coloration change or is he still clear like a ghost shrimp? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/9 "2011-11-18T04:53:21Z")
> [@conurepete](#): > > My favorite is the lungfish in the straight dope thread that broke out of the tank and went after the doper’s dad. I may be mis- remembering. I think the Doper was Phouka or floaty gimpy . My search fu is weak, my humble apologies. [A Fish Tale (very mundane and pointless, but hopefully funny)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=406034) [http://animal.discovery.com/videos/river-monsters-belching-african-lungfish.html](http://animal.discovery.com/videos/river-monsters-belching-african-lungfish.html) ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/10 "2011-11-18T05:05:14Z")
Unfortunately angelfish become too large to keep in a 10 gallon (I’ve heard a minimum of 29 gallons for one adult angel) but I’d agree that an adult angelfish can hold its own in a tank. Angelfish are a type of cichlid, and cichlids are frequently pugnacious when they feel their territory is being threatened. ---
**Author:** ![conurepete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@conurepete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conurepete)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/11 "2011-11-18T05:34:18Z")
OMG okay it was Selkie. I am so happy you found that. He is my favorite aggressive fish. All I have I is a cat and 2 parrots to make fart noises. Now all I need is the turkey baster octopus hickey thread. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/12 "2011-11-21T19:30:09Z")
You need a bigger tank. Even a few tiger barbs should ideally have a larger tank to play around in. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/13 "2011-11-21T19:45:58Z")
Northern Pike. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/14 "2011-11-22T01:40:26Z")
Northern pike ain’t pretty, though. I’m not sure from your description any fish is going to be up to the considerable challenge your new denizen represents. I would second the Angel fish, or maybe a betta? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/15 "2011-11-22T01:54:36Z")
They’re not “pretty,” but they’re _badass_ looking. Far and away the most intimidating, sleek killing machine of fresh water. I’d dig a pet pike, but I’d need a huge tank. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/16 "2011-11-22T05:38:10Z")
Green Severum cichlids are very pretty (nice shape) and pretty mean; I had one I named Panda that was the King of The Tank til the heater on my tank died…and so did he. He was rather magnificent. I miss Panda. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/17 "2011-11-22T17:43:38Z")
Wait , I thought the shrimp was going to have the 10 gallon allto himself, and you were looking for something to share? If not, don’t add anything, this is way over-stocked already. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/18 "2011-11-22T17:56:20Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > this is way over-stocked already. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/19 "2011-11-22T19:04:03Z")
> [@astro](#): > > [A Fish Tale (very mundane and pointless, but hopefully funny)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=406034) > > [http://animal.discovery.com/videos/river-monsters-belching-african-lungfish.html](http://animal.discovery.com/videos/river-monsters-belching-african-lungfish.html) Now I want more Fish stories. I wish there were a blog about him or something. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087/20 "2011-11-22T19:33:58Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Northern Pike. I’ll see your Northen Pike and raise you a Gar. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-folks-whats-your-favorite-semi-aggressive-freshwater-fish/603087.md?page=2)