Description:
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total):
7 - 7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 29 - 32. Eye
small, its diameter more than 7 times in head length
(in 18 cm long specimens); bright yellow caudal fin
in adults; maxillary barbel extends to gill aperture;
23-28 gill rakers on first arch. Found in large rivers
and estuaries. Occurs in high estuary (freshwater
tidal zone) as juveniles, moving to brackish water
as sub-adults, and finally as adults to river mouths
and inshore areas. Longevity given as 10 years but
appears too low. Reproduction: Reared
for consumption in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam;
excellent food fish with very white fine grained sweet
flesh. Diet: Feeds on snails, other
mollusks and plants. Remarks:
This catfish is not really recommended for the home
aquarium as they grow too big and have special requirements
that we as aquarists can never attain. Do not buy
from Fish stores if they are labeled as such, or as
Pangasius species.
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