PlanetCatfish.com - Pangasius sanitwongsei (Pangasiidae) Cat-eLog

Adult
Juvenile
Artificial balloon form
Sub-adult
Sub-adult
Head-on view
Adult
Adult
Close-up of head
Juvenile
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Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Pangasius sanitwongsei** Smith, 1931
Common Names	Paroon Shark Chao Phraya Giant Catfish, Dog-eating Catfish, Langfinnet Hajmalle (Denmark), Pangasid-catfish, Paroonhaj (Sweden), Pla Tepa (Thai), Pla Thepa
Type Locality	Menam Chao Phraya River at Koh Yai, central Thailand.
Synonym(s)	Pangasius beani, Pangasius sanitwangsei
Pronunciation	Pang ah see uss - san its wong aye
Etymology	The name Pangasius comes from a local (Bengali) name of the fish (pungas).
Articles	- CotM 1999 February
Species Information
Size	3000mm or 118.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Shows a black dorsal fin extension from about the 40mm size onwards. Sadly an artificially developed "balloon" form has been introduced into the hobby perhaps to combat the fishes large adult size.
Sexing	No recorded visible sexual differences.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Asia: Chao Phraya and Mekong basins. Thailand Waters, Chao Praya (click on these areas to find other species found there) Mekong (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Critically Endangered , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2007.
pH	6.5 - 7.5
Temperature	24.0-27.0°C or 75.2-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Will easily adapt to "normal" conditions (pH 6.5 - 7.5) and soft to medium hard water.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Will accept pellet and flake food(when young) in captivity. In the wild both young and adults feed on fishes and crustaceans. Examination of two young specimens (60 and 80 cm) had only small fishes in their stomachs. The larger fish had eaten three Pangasius macronema of 15 - 20 cm each, one Belodontichthys (a predatory silurid catfish) and one small cyprinid. Larger individuals will take the carcasses of fowl or dogs (commonly used for bait). User data.
Furniture	Needs vast amount of open space for swimming room and some plants to help reduce the nervous nature of the fish.
Compatibility	Not recommended for home aquaria.
Suggested Tankmates	Not recommended for home aquaria.
Breeding	Unsurprisingly, unreported in captivity.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the United States National Museum v. 79 (no. 2873), pp 29, Figs. 13-14.
Registered Keepers	There are 22 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is but a single wish to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 10 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up P. sanitwongsei on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.21.78.268
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:20 (species record created: 2001 Apr 24 00:00)