Redtail catfish
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| Phractocephalus hemioliopterus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) |
The redtail catfish, Phractocephalus hemioliopterus, is a pimelodid (long-whiskered) catfish named for its red or orange caudal fin. This fish originates from South America. Despite reaching a large size, this fish is a common aquarium fish.
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[edit] Distribution and Habitat
The redtail catfish is native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins of South America. It is found only in fresh water.[1] This fish has also been introduced into Florida, but it is not established.[1]
[edit] Anatomy
The redtail catfish has a broad head with a wide mouth. Its body is primarily dark gray with small darker gray spots. The ventral surface is paler. A lateral white band starts at the caudal peduncle and runs anteriorly, tapering to end anywhere from midway along the body to just behind the operculum. The caudal fin is red or orange, giving the fish its common name.
Upon maturity these fish can reach a length of 1.3 m (4 ft) total length. They have been known to reach over 44 kg (97 lb).[1]
[edit] Relationship to humans
Because of the large size this fish can reach, it is a minor game fish.[1]
It is said that the natives do not eat the meat of the Redtail catfish because it is black in coloration. [2] However, the redtail catfish has been hybridized with other fish such as the Tiger Shovelnose Pseudoplatysoma 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.
[edit] 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 fish despite their eventual large size. In an aquarium where they may be well-fed, these fish can grow quite rapidly.[2] 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.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Phractocephalus hemioliopterus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Apr 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
- ^ a b Axelrod, Herbert R. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-543-1
