ðə tˌɛɹɪtˈoːɹɪəl bᵻhˈeɪvjɚɹ ɪz mˈoʊstli ˈeɪmd æɾ ˈʌðɚ sˈʌkɚməθ ˈɑːɹmɚd kˈætfɪʃᵻz ænd dˈʊɹɹɪŋ dɪspjˈuːts ɐkˈænθɪkəs hæv ˈiːvən bˌɪn nˈoʊn tə kˈɪl tˈɜːɹɪɡˌɑːplɪtʃθiz ɡˈɪbaɪsˌɛps ɪtsˈɛlf tˈɪpɪkli kənsˈɪdɚd ɐ ɹoʊbˈʌst spˈiːsiːz.
The territorial behavior is mostly aimed at other suckermouth armored catfishes and during disputes Acanthicus have even been known to kill Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps (itself typically considered a robust species).