Mad Max the GATF and Chicxulub's other ATF

Chicxulub

Silver Tier VIP
MFK Member
Aug 29, 2009
11,403
7,488
1,955
Nah, do thread number two. I want this to die.

Once you start a thread, I'll put a link to it in here.



EDIT- I'm sorry guys. I'm in a bit of a state of flux here. I'm saddened and somewhat confused.

I think I've got it figured out though. I'm going to leave this thread open. I'm going to continue to use it. I'm also going to merge all of the threads where I've talked about my other ATF into this one. I do so much with this group of fish and I've touched on so much of it in this thread that it just makes sense to keep using it.

Please bear with me guys. I feel like I sold my beloved dog. It's kinda messing me up. I just couldn't house him once I get home after getting out of the army. The biggest tank that I can manage for the first 3-6 months after getting out is a 40b, which is obviously far too small for Max. While it might be a bit cramped, I think that a 40b might be able to keep me in the ATF game...

Thread reopened.
 

Aw3s0m3

Piranha
MFK Member
May 6, 2012
3,188
82
81
Over there
Sad to hear that you had to get rid of him but I see where you're coming from. It's what's best for the fish but at least you know he's in a good home and you'll get updates about him. Consider yourself lucky though that you were able to happily house a beast like max. I would love to keep any kind of ATF but I feel like my 150g will be way too small considering how active they are. His legend will live on though!


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 

Chicxulub

Silver Tier VIP
MFK Member
Aug 29, 2009
11,403
7,488
1,955
I've gone back and consolidated all of the ATF threads that I could find. Some picture spamming that I did about Max and non-ATF fishes in late 2012 I didn't merge back into this thread because they're either duplicates or irrelevant to this thread.

The huge, famous Mad Max thread now starts on post 83 on page 9. Here's a link:


Clickity click click

Please enjoy reading about my (mis)adventures with African tiger fish. I'm sure I've missed something, but I've got most of it I reckon.

Oh! And yes, you're seeing that right: the very first thread that mentioned the now-famous Mad Max actually didn't get a single reply. Who'd have thought he'd become what he did?


Sad to hear that you had to get rid of him but I see where you're coming from. It's what's best for the fish but at least you know he's in a good home and you'll get updates about him. Consider yourself lucky though that you were able to happily house a beast like max. I would love to keep any kind of ATF but I feel like my 150g will be way too small considering how active they are. His legend will live on though!


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
He will live on as well! I doubt that I would have been able to keep him alive through the coming period of hardship that I will face.

It's not a decision I wanted to make, but it was necessary. At least I know that he's going to a GOOD him with RobG. RobG has two big VATF comparable to Max, among other fish, living in a 600. It'll be 6-12 months before my 510 is up and running so it's the best possible thing that I could have done for Max.

I hope someday I start to believe that. :/




I'm not out of the ATF game by a long shot. My next contribution to this portion of the hobby is to show that there is a true contender to GATF for the title of the MOST badass ATF.

Stay tuned...
 

Aweshade9

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Oct 18, 2012
1,072
10
53
USA

Stuginski

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 5, 2013
191
1
0
Brazil
Hey Chicx, I'm sorry about this.


You done the right thing, sometimes the right thing and the hardest thing is the same.
I can imagine how you feeling, some years ago I had to give one of my "pets" for a different reason...and it hurts. But it was the right thing to do....


Good lucky in your new journey! Keep on "tigering"!:headbang2


D.
 

Chicxulub

Silver Tier VIP
MFK Member
Aug 29, 2009
11,403
7,488
1,955
Introducing Billy Badass, the Brevis African Tiger fish.

I've had Billy since September. He's been a VERY difficult but rewarding fish to keep so far. He has been by far and away the most predatory aggressive ATF I've ever kept. He actually begs for food and glassbangs like a big cichlid. The only problem I have with him is that he does NOT take pellets. I had him eating them shortly before I moved, but for some reason after the move he refused to eat ANYTHING. I almost gave in and gave him live but he started taking worms again. I think he might be getting close to taking pellets again but only time will tell. He's also the only fish that I've ever kept to make me bleed, but that's another story.

billy20130111b.jpg

billy20130111e.jpg


Hydrocynus brevis is a species about which I have been quite fascinated for a long time. They strike me as likely the most aggressive and powerful African tiger fish, pound for pound anyway. They are the only species of ATF to have actually been verified by science to live up to the reports of their bad-assery; these fish are confirmed to kill and feed on Nile perch significantly larger than themselves. When I had to move and was faced with the prospect of selling Max because I simply didn't have the ability to keep him for a few months after the move, the only thing that managed to mitigate the pain was the fact that by pure serendipity I was able to acquire a Hydrocynus brevis.

The reasons that I was able to live with a brevis in lieu of Max are because first, how rare they are in the hobby and second, because of this:

View attachment 979357

brevis large.jpg


Also, there are the comparisons I recently worked up between brevis and goliath:

View attachment 979359

View attachment 979360


And finally, here is Billy Badass compared directly to Mad Max, both at about six inches (which also clearly shows how much my photography skills have improved in a year [edit- year and a half actually :WHOA: ):

billy vs max.png

brevis large.jpg

billy vs max.png

billy20130111b.jpg

billy20130111e.jpg
 

Aweshade9

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Oct 18, 2012
1,072
10
53
USA
Yes, I finally get to see a brevis throughly documented with good pictures. I've been wanting one for a while, and I'll have to still be waiting for about another 4 years. Good Luck and keep us updated.
 

johnnytaboo

Fire Eel
MFK Member
May 4, 2005
1,123
26
68
MD, DC, VA
Nice Rob! Now I have to make sure my Baki stays bigger and prettier than Billy.

Serious congratulations though. Can wait to read about Billy's adventures. Perhaps you should start with the story where he somehow wounded you.


Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
zoomed.com
hikariusa.com
aqaimports.com
Store