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  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmusJuvenile
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmusAlbino juvenile
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmusAlbino adult
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmusAdult
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmusAdult
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmusJuvenile
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmus16.40 kg!
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmusJuvenile
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmusStamp
Hop to next section All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name Pangasianodon hypophthalmus  (Sauvage, 1878)
Common Names Iridescent Shark
Almindelig Hajmalle (Denmark), Iridescent Shark Catfish, Pla Sawai (Thai), Siam-Haiwels (Germany), Striped Catfish, Sutchi Catfish
Type Locality Laos.
Synonym(s) Helicophagus hypophthalmus, Pangasius hypophthalmus, Pangasius sutchi
Pronunciation Pang ah see ah naw don - hi poff thal muss
Etymology The generic name is derived from Pangasius + an (Greek for without)+odon (Greek for tooth); in reference to the toothless state of the adult fish. 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 1300mm or 51.2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification An albino variety is also, commonly, available.
Sexing Males have darker stripes and are more slender than females. It is unclear at what stage this becomes evident.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Asia: Mekong, Chao Phraya, and perhaps Mekong basins. Introduced into additional river basins for aquaculture.
Mekong (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Thailand Waters, Chao Praya (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Endangered, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2011.
pH 6.5 - 7.5
Temperature 22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Youngsters are more carnivorous than adults. Bloodworm and catfish tablets are best at first, moving onto shrimp and spinach cubes as the fish get larger. Ultimately any primarily vegetable based floating pellet foods. User data.
Furniture As little as possible, this fish needs space. Floating plants will reduce this fishes skittishness.
Compatibility Peaceful; can be kept with smaller fish, although this fishes extreme nervousness will affect what fish you can keep with it.
Suggested Tankmates Large active fish, the bigger barbs, Labeo ''sharks'', Loricariids, Pacu.
Breeding Unknown and probably impossible in the confines of a home aquarium. Is commercially bred for the aquarium trade in large ponds.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Bulletin de la Société philomathique de Paris (7th Série) v. 2, pp 235 [3].
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list.
There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars!
There are 5 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Nov 21 01:48 (species record created: 2001 Apr 24 00:00)