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Allan James (2) Oliver Fernandes (2) Nishant Kakani (2) Jean-Francois Helias (8) Chris Ralph (1) Peru Aquarium Group (1) Reinhold Wawrzynski (1)

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 3ft plus that it will attain throughout its long lifetime. Etymology: The specific name hemioliopterus: hemiólios (Gr.), one and a half; pterus, from pterón (Gr.) or ptéryx (pt), fin, referring to half-rayed adipose fin (“pinnae secundae parte superiore radiata”), thus, when including the rayed dorsal fin, giving the fish “one and a half” rayed fins on its back. Remarks: Definitely a candidate for the Public Aquaria.

Redtail Catfish

Silurus hemiliopterus, Phractocephalus bicolor

Pimelodidae

South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins.

100.0cm. (36ins)

20-26°C (67-79°F)

6.0-7.0.

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl, 1985. Aquarien atlas. Bd. 2.. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde, Germany.
Burgess, W.E., 1989. An atlas of freshwater and marine catfishes: a preliminary survey of the Siluriformes.. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey.
Salvador, G.N. 2023. Phractocephalus hemioliopterus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.
Sands, David: Catfishes of the World Vol.3 Auchenipteridae & Pimelodidae.
ScotCat Factsheet no. 82. April 2003.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.