Redtail catfish
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
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The redtail catfish is a huge catfish from the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo basins, with a red tail, the only living member of its genus. It eats anything that fits in its mouth — fish, crustaceans and fallen fruit. It is sold small but exceeds a metre, and many end up released into the wild. It has never been bred in aquaria.
- Scientific name
- Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
- Family
- Pimelodidae
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Freshwater
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Pimelodidae
- Order
- Siluriformes
- Synonyms
- Phractocephalus bicolor, Pimelodus grunniens, Rhamdia grunniens, Silurus hemioliopterus
Origin
- Native region
- América do Sul
Water
- Temperature
- 21–26 °C
- pH
- 6–7.5
- General hardness (GH)
- 2–12 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 134 cm
Behavior
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Swimming level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
Care
- Care difficulty
- Moderate
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
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