Asian redtail catfish (Hemibagrus nemurus)

Scientific name: Hemibagrus nemurus Valenciennes, 1840

The Asian redtail catfish (Hemibagrus nemurus) is a freshwater fish of the family Bagridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 22–25°C (72–77°F). Native range: Asia, Mekong, Chao Phraya and Xe Bangfai basins; also from the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo.

Asian redtail catfish care at a glance

Temperature: 22–25°C (72–77°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 13. Body color brown often with greenish sheen. Fins gray with violet tint. Pectoral fin spines serrated along the inner edge. Base of adipose fin shorter than that of dorsal fin and about equal to that of anal fin. Barbels four pairs; nasal barbels extending to or beyond eyes, maxillary ones in anal fin, mandibulary ones beyond base of pectoral fins, mental ones 2/3 - 3/4 the distance between their base and insertion of pectoral fins. Head flattened rather than conical; rugose skull roof; depressed dorsal fin not reaching adipose fin; pectoral fin smooth in front; 9 branched anal rays.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Hemibagrus nemurus
Family: Bagridae (Bagrid catfishes)
Order: Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 65.0
Depth range: 5 m (16 ft)
Environment: Freshwater; brackish;; pH range: 7.0 - 8.2; dH range: 10 - 25 benthopelagic; potamodromous; depth range 5 - ? m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Asia: Mekong, Chao Phraya and Xe Bangfai basins; also from the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)