Mekong Giant Catfish
Pangasianodon gigas
One of the largest freshwater fish on Earth, and critically endangered.
About
The Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) holds a place in the record books as one of the largest freshwater fish ever documented, with adults capable of reaching truly extraordinary sizes and packing on weight at a rate that few fish anywhere in the world can match. Native to the Mekong River basin in Southeast Asia, it is a migratory species that travels upstream to spawn during late spring and summer, navigating the vast river system in ways that are still not fully understood by researchers. Adults are toothless and have greatly reduced barbels compared to other members of the family, grazing on algae and bottom detritus in the wild, though captive fish will accept other foods. Sadly, this species sits at the center of one of freshwater biology's most urgent conservation stories. Wild populations have collapsed by over 80 percent since 1990, driven by overfishing, dam construction, and habitat loss. It has been listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2003, and international trade is prohibited under CITES Appendix I. Captive breeding programs in Thailand and other range countries have reintroduced thousands of farm-raised fish into natural waters, offering some hope. This is emphatically not an aquarium species under any circumstances. Not for ethical reasons alone, but because no home or even public facility could realistically meet the needs of an animal this large.
Similar species
Other fish you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Mekong Giant Catfish
From the same region
Share the same natural habitat. Great for a biotope-themed tank
Frequently asked questions
- How big does the Mekong Giant Catfish get?
- The Mekong Giant Catfish reaches about 71–118" as an adult.
- What water parameters does the Mekong Giant Catfish need?
- The Mekong Giant Catfish does best with a temperature of 68–82°F, a pH of 6.5–7.5, hardness around 4–20 dGH.
- Is the Mekong Giant Catfish aggressive?
- The Mekong Giant Catfish is generally peaceful and suits a community tank with similarly calm tankmates.
- What does the Mekong Giant Catfish eat?
- The Mekong Giant Catfish is a herbivore. It needs a plant-based diet such as algae, blanched vegetables, or spirulina-based foods.