Phractocephalus
hemioliopterus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
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| Image
contributors to this species: |
| Allan James
(2) Oliver Fernandes (2) Nishant
Kakani (2)
Jean-Francois
Helias (8)
Chris Ralph (1) Peru
Aquarium Group (1) |
| ScotCat
Sources: |
 
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| Other
Sources: |
 
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| Relevant
Information: |
This large pim is now
one of a few that have been released back to the rivers in Asia,
notably Thailand, to the decrement of the local fish population.
There are now man made lakes in Thailand were these catfish are
fished for sport and returned to the water again. The common name
of the "Red Tailed Catfish" is probably better known
than its scientifiic name as this is one of the few freshwater
tropical fish that has its common name known wordwide along with
the humble community fish of the Poecilidae family, the "Guppy",
"Molly", and "Platy". This
is where the similarity ends as this is an out and out predator
that grows over three feet and is definitely not recommended to
your average aquarist and can only be recommended to the more
experienced hobbyist who would be willing to dedicate, him or
herself, to rearing this Amazon cat through the many tank changes
from the juvenile stage to the the 3ft plus that it will attain
throughout its long lifetime. |
| Common
Name: |
Redtail Catfish |
| Synonyms: |
Silurus hemiliopterus,
Phractocephalus bicolor |
| Family: |
Pimelodidaeycipitidae |
| Distribution: |
South America:
Amazon and Orinoco River basins. Now found in the rivers of Thailand,
Asia. |
| Size:
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100cm.
( 3ft. ) |
| Temp: |
20
-26°C (67-79°F) |
| p.H. |
6.0
-7.0. |
| Reference: |
ScotCat Factsheet
no. 82. April 2003 |
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