All Fishes ⇒ Pangasiidae ⇒ Pangasius  |  | 

  • Pangasius sanitwongsei
  • Pangasius sanitwongseiAdult
  • Pangasius sanitwongseiJuvenile
  • Pangasius sanitwongsei
  • Pangasius sanitwongseiArtificial balloon form
  • Pangasius sanitwongseiSub-adult
  • Pangasius sanitwongseiSub-adult
  • Pangasius sanitwongseiHead-on view
  • Pangasius sanitwongseiAdult
  • Pangasius sanitwongseiAdult
  • Pangasius sanitwongsei
  • Pangasius sanitwongseiClose-up of head
  • Pangasius sanitwongsei
  • Pangasius sanitwongsei
  • Pangasius sanitwongseiJuvenile
  • Pangasius sanitwongseiStamp
Hop to next section All Fishes 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). 
Hop to next section 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.
Hop to next section 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)

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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.
Hop to next section 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.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the United States National Museum v. 79 (no. 2873), pp 29, Figs. 13-14.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 5 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Pangasius sanitwongsei QR code LFS label creator
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Last Update 2025 Jan 01 12:20 (species record created: 2001 Apr 24 00:00)