PlanetCatfish.com - Phractocephalus hemioliopterus (Pimelodidae) Cat-eLog

Juvenile
Brazil, Rio Xingu: 03°33'22.9"S 52°19'12.4"W
Dorsal view
Lutino
Adult
Close-up of platinum colour form
Adult, Rio Apure, Venezuela
Juvenile
Amelanistic form
Adult
Juvenile
Head on view of juvenile
Adult
Video
Video underwater
Gill curl due to poor water conditions
Platinum colour form
Stamp
Amelanistic form
Rio Nhamundá, Brazil

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Phractocephalus hemioliopterus** (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Common Names	South American Red Tailed Catfish Banana Catfish, Red-tailed Catfish, Redtail Catfish, Rotflossen-Antennenwels (Germany), Rødhalet Malle (Denmark), Rtc (Abbreviation)
Type Locality	Rio Maranham, Brazil.
Synonym(s)	Phractocephalus bicolor, Silurus hemioliopterus
Etymology	(Greek)Phraktos=Fence + (Greek)kephale=head.
Articles	- CotM 2000 January
Species Information
Size	1340mm or 52.8" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	An unmistakable species - the only identification woes come when examining young hybrids which appear in the hobby from time to time. The amelanistic form (absence of pigmentation but no albino pink eyes) is only found in young fish and only lasts for a few weeks. The fish revert to their normal colouration thereafter.
Sexing	Unknown, although the tail colour (which varies between red and orange / pink) and darkness of the top of the head (which varies from black to grey with black spots) vary from fish to fish. These are more likely to be due to diet and mood than sexual differences.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins. Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Lower Amazon, Nhamundá (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Middle Orinoco, Apure (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Lower Amazon, Xingu (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH	6.5 - 7.5
Temperature	21.0-26.0°C or 69.8-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	The important fact in feeding these fish isn't what it's when. Red tails should only be fed sporadically. Once fed they become sluggish and so the time to feed a red tail can be gauged by the activity of the fish. It will become permanently active when hungry. Over-feeding can be disastrous and is a common cause of death in these fish. In the wild the fish eat fallen fruit, crustaceans and fish. User data.
Furniture	The fish does not require cover although subdued lighting should be utilised. Aquarium decor and equipment should be selected and deployed for it's own care rather than that of the red-tail. Thus the required heavy external filtration and out-of-tank heating are recommended. Red tails are renowned for swallowing items within their tanks (I.E. heater clips, filter intakes etc.); gladly these are often regurgitated but can sometimes cause serious problems for the fish. The best policy is to have as much as possible outside the aquarium.
Compatibility	This fish is territorial within confined spaces and is certainly capable of killing other tankmates. Best kept 'home alone' unless a very large aquarium is to be provided.
Suggested Tankmates	Given sufficient space (and we are talking small ponds here or public aquaria) the fish can be successfully mixed with other large Pimelodids, Doradids, Cichlids and Characins.
Breeding	One captive spawning report exists from American fishkeeper Richard DeLeonardis. He kept the fishes in 150 US gallon acrylic tank, 24”/60cm wide. Richard noted his female had brighter red colouration shown on the unpaired fins which were also larger, had a snow white belly. The female had more “personality” and was easy to hand feed since acquired at 3 inches in 1996. In contrast, the male had dull colouration and a black belly. Female was 38 inches long, male was 32 inches long. Females typically more active. Over 200 round copper coloured eggs were produced. They were ¼”/ 6mm around. Richard was prepared for a spawn; he had a sponge filter running in the tank which could go into a 30 gallon tank to siphon eggs in and he had a video camera at the ready. One morning he noticed all the round copper objects but was used to off white coloured eggs and did not do anything with them nor record them on video. On return from work all eggs were gone. Commercial breeding as food fish is practiced in South America, a spin off from which are the aforementioned imports of 'kittens'. Aquaculture has also given us hybrids of Red tails and Tiger Shovelnose (Pseudoplatystoma sp.) Also shown is the inappropriately named white red tail catfish (which is all white) and it is very uncommon indeed.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	M. E. Blochii, Systema Ichthyologiae, pp 385.
Registered Keepers	There are 88 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 4 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 29 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.15.107.305
Last Update	2020 Nov 08 05:15 (species record created: 2001 Apr 22 00:00)