Dubai: Its predecessors are famous for devouring humans bathing in India's Great Kali river. Looking at this massive pre-historic looking fish with a large head and mouth full of jagged teeth, it is easy to believe that it can eat just about anything it gets its teeth into.
But the 1.2-metre Giant Devil Catfish — a new entrant in Atlantis' Ambassador Lagoon — is not here to scare the devil out of you.
Feeding on a variety of fish like carp, koi, milk fish, squid and shrimps, this ‘Goonch fish' is here to make peace. Kept in a protected habitat with other catfish in the Red Sage Chamber of The Lost Chambers, the giant fish is said to be elusive and non-aggressive.
"It prefers to lay low under its ledge environment, but we are sure that as it adapts to its new home and mates, it will become quite friendly," said Steve Kaiser, Vice President, Marine Sciences and Engineering at Atlantis The Palm.
Acquired from a private collector in Taiwan last December, the sex of the catfish has yet to be determined. "It is hard to tell, but it does exhibit some male characteristic!" he said.
The ‘young male' is expected to grow up to a length of two metres (six feet) and requires little care. "We ensure it is well fed and the water quality is good. We constantly monitor its health and ensure that it gets along with others in the marine habitat. We have installed a number of underwater ledges as it is known to be comfortable under these."
Catfish Origin
The Giant Devil Catfish is said to inhabit South and South East Asia. It can be seen swimming through the Indus drainage in Pakistan and India, the Red River drainage in Vietnam. It is also found in the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia.
Atlantis The Palm is home to around 65,000 marine animals, including 250 species.
