Giant Pangasius

Pangasius sanitwongsei is a critically endangered pangasid catfish native to the Mekong River, where populations have been decimated by overfishing and habitat loss. Capable of reaching three metres in length and weighing over 300 kg in exceptional wild specimens, it is one of the largest freshwater fish on the planet. In the aquarium trade it is represented by juveniles that grow rapidly and require progressively larger facilities to maintain ethically.

In captivity, Pangasius sanitwongsei is an impressive and striking fish with a sharply black-and-white patterned body as a juvenile and a more uniform grey-silver coloration as an adult. It is an active mid-water swimmer that requires enormous volumes of well-oxygenated, clean water. Feeding on large, meaty items including whole fish and prawns sustains its rapid growth rate.

The ethical implications of keeping this critically endangered species must be considered carefully — specimens in the trade should ideally originate from licensed captive breeding programmes rather than wild collection. Only aquarists with genuine facilities approaching public-aquarium scale can responsibly maintain this species for its natural lifespan.

Water: 22–26°C, pH 6.5–7.5, soft to moderately hard (GH 2–15); industrial oxygenation and filtration. Tank: 5000 L absolute minimum; public-aquarium-level facilities required for ethical long-term care. Feeding: Whole fish, large prawns, fish fillet, large sinking pellets; substantial quantities required. Breeding: Critically endangered; captive breeding programmes exist; not achieved by hobbyists. Compatibility: May be kept with other large peaceful fish of comparable or greater size.