When I was in my teens, I used to dream of owning a giant aquarium in the cellar of my old family home, and housing a huge Bracyhplatystoma tigrinum (then Merodontotus tigrinus) in it. This was a time when Pangasius catfish in 120cm tanks were the norm, and keeping big fish was a badge of honour.

Through the late 90s and early millenium, tankbusters fell out of favour, becoming a vice as folks realised how hard they were to keep happy. But in the last decade they have returned and are a very real phenomenon.

Kept right, giants have their place. In this issue, Oliver Lucanus explains how to care for lumbering Peacock bass, while Mark Beeston, who has worked with big fish firsthand, takes a look at where unwanted monsters go when they’ve outgrown their tanks.

Love them or hate them, big fish are here to stay...

Nathan Hill, Editor