Redtail catfish
Encyclopedia
The redtail catfish, Phractocephalus hemioliopterus, is a pimelodid
(long-whiskered) catfish
named for its red or orange caudal fin. In Venezuela
it is known as cajaro and in Brazil
and even in a few parts of Bay of Bengal it is known as pirarara. It is the only extant species of the genus Phractocephalus. This fish originates from South America
. Despite reaching a large size, this fish is a common aquarium
fish.
. P. nassi was described in 2003, and is from Urumaco
, Venezuela
. Another undescribed member is known to exist from Acre
, Brazil
. This genus has a minimum age of about 13.5 million years.
, Orinoco, and Essequibo
river basins of South America. It is found only in fresh water
.
It is said that the natives do not eat the meat of the Redtail catfish because it is black in coloration. However, the redtail catfish has been hybridized with other fish such as the Tiger Shovelnose Pseudoplatystoma sp.
through the use of hormones in attempts to create a viable food fish; these hybrid fish sometimes make it into the aquarium hobby under a variety of common names.
Juveniles are often available as aquarium
fish despite their eventual large size. In an aquarium where they may be well-fed, these fish can grow quite rapidly. Weekly feeding is appropriate for this catfish; overfeeding is a common cause of death in this species. It feeds heavily on live and dead fishes and other meat. Even as a juvenile of only a few inches in length, they are able to swallow many of the more common aquarium fish such as tetras, and it is only appropriate to house this fish with other species of relatively large size. Redtail catfish also have a habit of swallowing inedible objects in the aquarium. Though these are often regurgitate
d, both the swallowing and the regurgitation can present a problem for the fish, and these objects are best kept out of the aquarium.
It is important that these fish are housed in large aquariums. A minimum size tank for a full grown (4-5 feet) is 1000+ gallons.
The tank should have plenty of room for the fish to move around, but also provide hiding spots for them. Decor should be heavy so it can't be moved around. Plants should be well rooted or they will be ripped out.
Pimelodidae
Pimelodidae, commonly known as the long-whiskered catfishes, is a family of catfishes .-Taxonomy:Pimelodidae has undergone much revision. Currently, the family contains about 30 genera and about 90 recognized and known but unnamed species...
(long-whiskered) catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
named for its red or orange caudal fin. In Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
it is known as cajaro and in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and even in a few parts of Bay of Bengal it is known as pirarara. It is the only extant species of the genus Phractocephalus. This fish originates from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Despite reaching a large size, this fish is a common aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
fish.
Extinct Phractocephalus
Although the redtail catfish is the only living representative of this genus, there are other members that date back to the upper MioceneMiocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
. P. nassi was described in 2003, and is from Urumaco
Urumaco
Urumaco is a town in the state of Falcón in Venezuela. It is of world importance for its fossils. The arid climate of the region means that the fossils are not hidden by vegetation. They were first made known to science by geologists who came across them while looking for oil...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Another undescribed member is known to exist from Acre
Acre (state)
Acre is one of the 27 states of Brazil. It is situated in the southwest of the Northern Region, bordering Amazonas to the north, Rondônia to the east, Bolivia to the southeast and the Ucayali Region of Peru to the south and west. It occupies an area of 152,581.4 km2, being slightly smaller...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. This genus has a minimum age of about 13.5 million years.
Distribution and habitat
The redtail catfish is native to the AmazonAmazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
, Orinoco, and Essequibo
Essequibo River
The Esequibo River is the largest river in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. Rising in the Acarai Mountains near the Brazil-Guyana border, the Essequibo flows to the north for 1,010 km through forest and savanna into the Atlantic Ocean.-Geography:There are countless...
river basins of South America. It is found only in fresh water
Fresh Water
Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve...
.
Relationship to humans
Due to the potential large size of this species, redtail catfish are considered a game fish by anglers. The all-tackle world record for length is held by Michael Yiran Ma of the U.S. with a 109 cm specimen caught in the Ratchaburi Province of Thailand in June 2011. The current world record for weight belongs to the Brazilian Jorge Masullo de Aguiar with 51.5 kg.It is said that the natives do not eat the meat of the Redtail catfish because it is black in coloration. However, the redtail catfish has been hybridized with other fish such as the Tiger Shovelnose Pseudoplatystoma sp.
Pseudoplatystoma
Pseudoplatystoma is a genus of several South American catfish species of family Pimelodidae. The three species are known by a number of different common names. They inhabit the major rivers of north-eastern Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay and Brazil. They prefer the main channels and...
through the use of hormones in attempts to create a viable food fish; these hybrid fish sometimes make it into the aquarium hobby under a variety of common names.
In the aquarium
The redtail catfish is an extremely popular fish in Amazonian themed exhibits at public aquaria, where they are often housed with other large fish such as Colossoma macropomum, Arapaima gigas, and other large catfish.Juveniles are often available as aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
fish despite their eventual large size. In an aquarium where they may be well-fed, these fish can grow quite rapidly. Weekly feeding is appropriate for this catfish; overfeeding is a common cause of death in this species. It feeds heavily on live and dead fishes and other meat. Even as a juvenile of only a few inches in length, they are able to swallow many of the more common aquarium fish such as tetras, and it is only appropriate to house this fish with other species of relatively large size. Redtail catfish also have a habit of swallowing inedible objects in the aquarium. Though these are often regurgitate
Regurgitation (digestion)
Regurgitation is the expulsion of material from the mouth, pharynx, or esophagus, usually characterized by the presence of undigested food or blood.Regurgitation is used by a number of species to feed their young...
d, both the swallowing and the regurgitation can present a problem for the fish, and these objects are best kept out of the aquarium.
It is important that these fish are housed in large aquariums. A minimum size tank for a full grown (4-5 feet) is 1000+ gallons.
Care
- Tank size - 2000 gallon minimum for a full grown adult
- Ph level - 7.4-7.6
- Water temp. - 74-80 °F
- Tank mates - Fish that are larger than the catfish's mouth
- Feeding - Bloodworms, krill shrimp, fish fillets, pellets, fruit, ect. (will eat most anything placed in tank)
- Mature size - 4 to 5 feet in lenth, 80-120 lbs
The tank should have plenty of room for the fish to move around, but also provide hiding spots for them. Decor should be heavy so it can't be moved around. Plants should be well rooted or they will be ripped out.