Shark catfish is a fish called pangasius, which looks very much like a shark. Pangasius is used for food – it is known by many fish lovers as “sole”, but this fish can also be kept in an aquarium. It is popular for its predatory appearance, mobility and affection for its owners.
Shark catfish is a fish that belongs to the pangasius family. In nature, shark catfish is found in Thailand and Laos, in freshwater lakes and rivers, as well as in artificial canals and channels, for which it is also called channel catfish. Its fishing and breeding is economically profitable in comparison with many other fish, in addition, it is in great demand in many countries – as a rule, in stores such fish are sold in the form of frozen fillets, which is better known in our country as “sole”. But shark catfish is not only a fish dish, but also an aquarium fish. This creature differs from the usual pangasius, which is used for food, in smaller size: if they eat mainly individuals that reach several tens of sentiments or even a meter in length, then smaller fish are bred in aquariums.
Shark catfish as an aquarium fish is divided into two types: Siamese pangasius and pangasius sutchi. The first is very popular with many aquarium fish lovers due to its resemblance to a small shark (for which it is even called a freshwater shark): such fish have a flattened head, a high fin on the back, large eyes and two pairs of mustaches near the mouth. In youth, the Siamese pangasius has a gray color with beautiful longitudinal silvery stripes that run along the entire body, and with age they begin to darken, and the fish turns dark gray. Female shark catfish are large compared to males and are often paler.
The maximum size of this fish when breeding in an aquarium is sixty centimeters, you can control the growth of a pangasius using the nutrition and size of the aquarium.
Siamese pangasius is very mobile, active, but shy. After the fish is launched into the aquarium, it begins to rush quickly, sometimes even pretending to be dead, then it can wake up and start actively moving again. It is interesting to watch this fish: it always rushes in the middle layer of water in the aquarium. Together with the Siamese shark catfish, you can breed cichlids, gur, knife fish, iris.
Pangasius sutchi is a smaller, not as mobile and not as predatory fish as the Siamese shark catfish, therefore it is less often used for breeding. Such fish often swim at the front wall of the aquarium, know the owners and react to their presence.
Conditions for keeping shark catfish
Shark catfish are rarely bought one at a time, it is advisable to keep them in small flocks, so it is better to buy three or four fish right away. Both types of shark catfish need to be bred in spacious aquariums – three hundred to three hundred and fifty liters, but if you wish, you can place it in a smaller aquarium, then the fish will not grow large. It is advisable to choose an oblong aquarium. Somik does not tolerate stagnant water, so it is advisable to clean the aquarium more often, constantly filter, oxygenate and frequently renew the water. Fish imported from abroad are especially hard to get used to new water, so you need to carefully monitor its composition: the hardness should be from two to fifteen degrees, the temperature should be 24-29 degrees, the content of nitrates, nitrites and ammonia should be low. The water should be changed every week, but not all of it – thirty percent of the total is enough.
You can arrange an aquarium for a pangasius using sandy soil, several driftwood and stones. Aquarium plants are carefully fixed in the ground
It is advisable to feed shark catfish in the evening, in dim light – the pangasius does not like to eat in bright light and may even refuse food if the room is very light. Fish are fed with bloodworms, tubifex, lean fish, veal, beef heart or dry food, the diet should be mostly protein. Frozen fish food must be defrosted beforehand. Pangasius should not be fed with flakes, as they are low in protein and will quickly contaminate the aquarium. Shark catfish is a very voracious fish, but it never picks up food that has fallen on the ground, but eats only what is in the water, so it is advisable to keep other fish that eat food from the bottom together with shark catfish so that the aquarium does not get dirty. Pangasius is not picky about food, so it is well suited for beginner lovers of aquarium fish. Feeding your pangasius can be a big hit to your wallet, especially if you buy ready-made pellets.
Shark catfish lays eggs in the period from June to November among plants, with a lack of food, pangasius begin to eat fry. For the same reason, you should not keep shark catfish – a fairly large and predatory fish – in the same aquarium with small fish. Although, if it is fed enough, then cases of cannibalism are very rare. In addition, adult freshwater sharks sometimes start to fight each other and can even cause serious injury.
Read on about the rules for drawing up a dietary menu.