🐟 AquaticCare difficulty: AdvancedLegal complexity: High — restricted in many states
Mekong giant catfish
Pangasianodon gigas
The Mekong giant catfish is among the largest freshwater fish on Earth, a critically endangered migratory giant of the Mekong River. Overfishing, dams that block its migrations, and habitat loss have collapsed its wild numbers.
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Quick facts
| Size | One of the largest freshwater fish; up to ~3 m and ~300 kg. |
| Lifespan | 30–60 years |
| Native region | Mekong River basin, Southeast Asia |
| Climate | 🌴 Tropical |
| Water type | 💧 Freshwater |
| Genus | Pangasianodon |
Habitat & enclosure
A long-distance migratory fish of the main Mekong channel that historically traveled vast distances to spawn. Dams now fragment its migration routes, and overfishing of a slow-maturing giant has been devastating. It is not an aquarium fish; this profile is conservation/education focused on river protection.
Diet
Adults are largely herbivorous, grazing on algae and plant matter in the river, a surprising diet for so large a fish. Its reliance on an intact, free-flowing river ties its survival to basin-wide management.
Behavior & temperament
Fast-growing yet late-maturing, it depends on completing long spawning migrations that dams increasingly obstruct. Conservation hatcheries release juveniles, but restoring connectivity and curbing harvest are the larger challenges.
Reviewed and signed off by: KinStation Editorial — conservation profile (pending DVM/biologist review)