South American Redtail Catfish (Phractocephalus Hemioliopterus)

This giant is native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins where it is considered to be one of the top predatory fish. With a length of 4.5 ft (1.35m) and weighing over 80 lbs its not hard to see why!

They have black/grey bodies with a white stripe down the side and a bright red caudal fin that gives this fish its characteristic name.

A very large aquarium is a necessity for adults- up to 1,500 to 2,000 gallons for them to thrive and be healthy.

These apex predators are territorial and vigorously defend their hunting grounds from other fish in the wild.

They are nocturnal and rely on their senses and excellent low light vision to hunt for prey

Care

• Size: 4.5ft max

• Lifespan: 15-20 years

• Temperature: 20-26℃

• pH: 6-7.5

• Diet: these fish are omnivours and eat a wide variety of foods such as pellet, fruit, live and frozen foods , bloodworm, earthworms, crickets, frozen & live fish

Tank Mates

As opportunistic predators, they will eat anything that will fit in their mouth!

If wanting to keep with other fish, here is a list of some possible tankmates but please do so with great caution

• Oscars

• Silver Arowana

• Pacu

• Clown Loaches

• Plecostomus

• Bichir