Pangasianodon gigas
Chevey, 1931 |
irst of all this is not an aquarium care sheet
for this species as the "Mekong giant catfish" does not
belong in the home aquarium, as this is one of the worlds largest
freshwater fish and as such should be admired from afar!
It was reported in 2003 that Pangasianodon gigas
is in itself getting to a critical point of extinction due to the
growing pressure by fisheries, damming, and habitat destruction
along the banks in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. This is also true
of a lot of other species that exist in this great river as more
and more people rely on the Megong for their livliehood.
Like many species in the Mekong, the giant catfish needs
great stretches of the river to migrate seasonally—and it
must have specific water quality and flow to move through its lifecycles
of spawning, eating, and breeding.
It shows one of the greatest growth rates for any fish in the
world, reaching 150 to 200kg in 6 years.
The "Mekong giant catfish" has
been re-listed as Critically Endangered because there is information
which indicates that populations of the fish have declined significantly
over the past several years.
There are game fishing trips for catching this large species (above)
but these are rereleased back into their habitat and the records
that they record can help to identify what condition and numbers
there are at that present moment in time.
Dorsal spines (total): 2 - 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 8; Anal
soft rays: 35; Vertebrae: 48. Body without stripes; posterior nostril
located near anterior nostril; 7 branched dorsal-fin rays; gill
rakers rudimentary or absent. The center of the eye above the horizontal
line through the mouth angle in juveniles; eye totally below the
level of mouth angle in subadults and adults. The maxillary and
mandibulary pairs of barbels well developed in juveniles; mandibulary
barbels become rudimentary in subadults and adults. Gigantic size;
oral teeth and gill rakers present in small juveniles, absent at
about 30-50 cm SL; dorsal, pelvic and pectoral fins without filamentous
extensions
Silver to grey body. Fins grey, never black. Yellow underbelly and
same colour to mouth area.
Not an aquarium specimen.
Little is known on its general pattern of life and migratory journeys
for spawning
Feeds on vegetation and insect larvae in the river but takes other
food in captivity.
| Sexual
differences |
Females are fuller in the body.
|
| Etymology |
Pangasianodon: Pangasius
+ an (Greek for without)+odon (Greek for tooth); in reference
to the toothless state of the adult fish.
gigas: Latin meaning Giant
|
| References |
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors.
2006.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org,
version (05/2006).
Rainboth, WJ, 1996. Fishes of the Cambodian
Mekong. FAO Species Identification Field Guide for Fishery
Purposes. FAO, Rome, p153.
National Geographic: Giant Catfish Critically
Endangered. Ryan Mitchell and David Braun National Geographic
News November 18, 2003
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| Factsheet
Request |
Eric Olson
|
| Glossary |
Gill rakers: Structure
on the upper portion of the gill arches.
Maxillary barbels: Pertaining
to the upper jaw. (maxillary barbels)
Mandibulary barbels: Pertaining
to the lower jaw. (mandibular barbels)
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Top image: 
Bottom image:  |
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| Synonyms:
|
| Pangasius gigas , Pangasius paucidens |
| Common
Name: |
| Mekong giant catfish |
| Family: |
| Pangasiidae |
| Subfamily: |
| |
| Distribution: |
| Asia: endemic to the Mekong basin
where it has become rare due to overexploitation. International
trade banned (CITES I, since 1.7.1975; CMS Appendix I). |
| Size: |
| 300cm. (11ft.4ins) |
| Temp: |
| 22
-28°C (71 -83°F) |
| pH.: |
| 6.5
-7.5. |
| Donation: |
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