Asian Redtail Catfish, scientifically known as Hemibagrus wyckioides, is a type of catfish in the Bagridae family.
It lives in large rivers with rocky bottoms and varying depths. This fish doesn’t migrate but reproduces locally.
During high water from July to October, it enters flooded forests. Its diet consists of insects, prawns, fish, and crabs.
Asian redtail catfish are sold fresh at markets. The biggest one caught in Thailand’s Mae Klong River weighed 86 kg (about 190 lbs).
Asian Redtail Catfish Interesting Facts
- Asian redtail catfish live in large rivers with rocky bottoms and don’t migrate, reproducing locally instead.
- Their diet includes insects, prawns, fish, and crabs, and they enter flooded forests during high water periods.
- These catfish can grow up to a maximum length of 51 inches (130 centimeters) and weigh up to 86 kg; the largest one caught weighed 190 lbs.
- As the fish grows larger than 15 cm, its tail fin changes from whitish to bright red.
Asian Redtail Catfish Habitat
Asian redtail catfish is found in the Mekong River basin in Asia. It has also been found in Chao Phraya, Maeklong, and river systems in Peninsular Thailand.
It lives in freshwater environments and stays close to the bottom of the water (demersal).
The Asian redtail catfish moves within rivers during its life cycle (potamodromous) and prefers subtropical climates.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Asian Redtail Catfish Physical Characteristics
Size: 19.7 inches (50.0 centimeters)
Asian redtail catfish grow up to a maximum length of 51 inches (130 centimeters) and weigh up to 86 kg (190 lbs).
However, it’s more commonly found at a length of 19.7 inches (50.0 centimeters).
This fish has one dorsal spine, 7 to 8 dorsal soft rays, 12 to 14 anal soft rays, and 52 to 53 vertebrae.
When Asian redtail catfish is larger than about 6 inches (15 centimeters), it has a bright red tail fin. Smaller ones have a whitish tail fin.
The adipose fin is long, with a gently sloping front edge. The dorsal spine is short and not well-developed, without serrations on the back edge.
The head of the Asian redtail catfish is flat rather than cone-shaped.
It has a short bone near its head that doesn’t touch the base of the dorsal fin. There are no stripes on its body.
Asian Redtail Catfish Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Bagridae |
| Genus: | Hemibagrus |
| Scientific Name: | Hemibagrus wyckioides |
| Also Known As: | Asian Redtail Catfish |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |