[3] They live primarily in the main channel of the river, where the water depth is over 10 m (33 ft),[11] while researchers, fishermen and officials have found this species in the Tonle Sap River and Lake in Cambodia, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Mekong River Catfish is one of the largest freshwater fish on the planet. We compared the relationship between gut length (GL) and total length (TL) among related species in superfamily Bagroidea, order Siluriformes (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus and Hemibagrus nemurus) in the Kaeng Krachan reservoir, Thailand. Historically, the fish's natural range reached from the lower Mekong in Vietnam (above the tidally influenced brackish water of the river's delta) all the way to the northern reaches of the river in the Yunnan Province of China, spanning almost the entire 4,800 km (3,000 mi) length of the river. Although endangered in its wild habitat, this species is widely stocked into fishing lakes in Thailand. Thai fisheries officials stripped the fish of its eggs as part of a breeding programme, intending then to release it, but the fish died in captivity and was sold as food to local villagers. Some consider this species the largest strictly-freshwater fish species, and the largest recorded individual measured 8 feet, 10 inches long. [21] Thailand is the only country to allow fishing for private stocks of Mekong giant catfish. Mekong Giant Catfish Facts and Information Pangasianodon gigas Introduction to Mekong Giant Catfish The Mekong Giant Catfish is often mistaken for a type of shark in the water. These fish are a staple of the local diet and a major source of protein for the 60 million people in the lower Mekong river basin, made up of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The Working Group will review and compile existing knowledge on the Mekong giant fish species regarding: important habitats, migrations, biology and life cycles, as well as artificial breeding and results of release of artificially-bred fingerlings, etc. It is considered critically endangered due to accelerating habitat loss. Distribution. 12975).Feeds on detritus and algae on the bottom (Ref. [10] Due to threats, this species no longer inhabits the majority of its original habitat. [8][13] Overfishing, damming, destruction of spawning, and breeding grounds and siltation have taken a toll on the species' habitat. Fishsiam.com is an established Anglo-Thai company. This native Thai fish species is currently recognized by the Guinness book of records as the Largest freshwater fish species on earth. It is grey to white in colour and is distinguished by the near-total lack of barbels and the absence of teeth. They also consume plants from the bottom of the water. Larval fish are threatened by habitat fragmentation due to construction of dams which are becoming increasingly common.[8]. [15], Endemic to the lower half of the Mekong River, this catfish is in danger of extinction due to overfishing, as well as the decrease in water quality due to development and upstream damming. Maximum Standard Length. Belonging to the shark catfish family, this underwater giant is endemic to Southeast Asia’s Mekong basin.Once found along the course of the river, stretching from Vietnam to China, this giant fish now inhabits the waters of the Lower Mekong – a fragment of its prior home. [4][5][6] Juvenile fish wear barbels that shrink as they age. It’s a pelagic species inhabiting main river channels and larger tributaries.. Create a new folder below. To access this item, please sign in to your personal account. The Mekong giant catfish Pangasianodon gigas is one of the largest freshwater fish, measuring up to 3 m in total length. The mean relative gut length (RGL = GL / TL) of P. gigas was 3.50, showing that they have relatively long guts, with values more similar to those of omnivorous P. hypophthalmus (RGL = 3.70) than to those of carnivorous H. nemurus (RGL = 0.92). The Mekong giant catfish are highly migratory requiring large stretches of river for seasonal journeys and specific environmental conditions in their spawning and breeding areas. The three-year project aims to document the world's largest freshwater fishes, from giant catfish to half-ton stingrays. In the second of a … [7] Numbers of young fish are declining. The world is full of huge freshwater fish, and some of them are just as big as anything swimming out in the ocean. 37772) which occurs in medium to large-sized rivers (Ref. [7], The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) works in partnership with other organizations including the Mekong River Commission and the Asian Development Bank which aims to ensure that environmental and social impacts are considered in developments of hydropower infrastructures. Has an unconfirmed maximum length of 120″ (300cm) and over 350kg in weight! Keywords: Mekong Giant Catfish (Pangasianodongigas), Dietary protein requirement, Growth performances Introduction Mekong Giant Catfish (Pangasianodongigas), is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, native to Mekong River basin with the fact that the *Corresponding author: SuthusPhuakgeen; e-mail: suthus_53@hotmail.com [1], The Mekong giant catfish is described as a contemporary example of overharvest. The Thailand Fisheries Department has instituted a breeding programme to restock the Mekong River. Habitat. It’s diet consists of small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. 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