Redtail Catfish
From Devonshire
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 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.
Contents |
Extinct Phractocephalus
Although the redtail catfish is the only living representative of this genus, there are other members that date back to the upper Miocene. P. nassi was described in 2003, and is from Urumaco, Venezuela. Another undescribed member is known to exist from Acre, Brazil.
Distribution and Habitat
The redtail catfish is native to the Amazon, Orinoco, and Essequibo river basins of South America. It is found only in fresh water. This fish has also been introduced into Florida, but it is not established.
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).
In the aquarium
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. 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 regurgitated. Both the swallowing and the regurgitation can present a problem for the fish, and objects are best kept out of the aquarium.
References
See Wikipedia please!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-tailed_catfish#References
