Asian redtail catfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Asian redtail catfish |
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The Asian redtail catfish (scientific name: Hemibagrus wyckioides) is a type of catfish. It belongs to a family of fish called Bagridae.
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Where Does the Asian Redtail Catfish Live?
These amazing catfish originally come from the Mekong River area in Southeast Asia. You can also find them in other big rivers like the Chao Phraya River and Mae Klong in Thailand. Some have also been brought to Malaysia, where they now live in the wild too.
What Does the Asian Redtail Catfish Look Like?
The Asian redtail catfish is a very large fish! It can grow up to 130 centimetres (51 inches) long. This makes it the biggest Bagrid catfish found in Asia. Some of these fish can even weigh as much as 80 kilograms (about 176 pounds).
When these catfish are young, their tail fin (called the caudal fin) is white. But as they grow, especially when they reach about 15 cm (6 in) in length, their tail turns a bright, striking red!
How to Tell it Apart from Similar Catfish
There's another catfish called Hemibagrus wyckii that looks quite similar. However, the Asian redtail catfish (H. wyckioides) has a few key differences. It doesn't have jagged edges on its dorsal fin spine. Its dorsal fin base is also shorter, and its maxillary barbels (the whisker-like feelers near its mouth) are shorter too.
What Does the Asian Redtail Catfish Eat?
Asian redtail catfish live in large rivers, especially where the bottom is rocky and the water depth changes a lot. They don't usually travel far. Instead, they reproduce in their local areas. When the water levels rise between July and October, they might swim into flooded forests.
These catfish are not picky eaters! They enjoy a varied diet. They often eat insects, prawns, smaller fish, and even crabs.
Asian Redtail Catfish and Humans
People often catch the Asian redtail catfish for food. It is sold fresh in markets as a type of seafood. In many Asian countries, these catfish are also raised in fish farms, a process called aquaculture.
As Aquarium Pets
Both the Asian redtail catfish (Hemibagrus wyckioides) and Hemibagrus wyckii are sometimes kept as aquarium fish. If you have one as a pet, be aware that they like to move things around! They might rearrange the decorations in their tank.
These fish are known for being very aggressive. Some people even say they are one of the most aggressive freshwater fish in the world. Because of this, it's usually best to keep them alone in an aquarium. They will eat many different kinds of fish foods.
As an Invasive Species
The Asian redtail catfish has become an invasive species in Malaysia. They were brought there to be raised for food. However, some of these fish either escaped from fish farms or were illegally released into rivers. Because they are so good at surviving and reproducing, they can cause problems for local fish species. Now, it is against the law to keep H. wyckioides in net cages in Malaysia.
