I understand where you're coming from. The "Atila the Hun with whiskers" sounds about right. I acquired an 88 gallon tank from a coworker with a (at the time) 5-6 inch channel cat, and several large goldfish. Here we are about 9 months later, and the channel cat appears to be around 15-16 inches ...

Same thing happened with mine he was about the same size when I moved the fish from one apartment to another. After a few days he was more comfortable with his new surroundings and his appetite gradually increased.

I'm not sure how accurate this drawing (or information) is having never actually seen one of these (we just don't get that many in Michigan), but here it is: <a href="http://www.non-contradiction.com/ac_aristotlecatfish.asp">http://www.non-contradiction.com/ac_aristotlecatfish.asp</a>

I've got a lovely 12" Channel Cat (not blue though) if you're interested.

Although in the past few weeks he's (or she, won't really stay still enough to sex it) taken an overt interesting in tormenting the two gold comet goldfish it shares space with.