Striped catfish
📖 Overview
Facultative air-breathing ; Adults inhabit large rivers . Recorded as having been or being farmed in rice fields . Omnivorous , feeding on fish and crustaceans as well as on vegetable debris . A migratory species, moving upstream of the Mekong from unknown rearing areas to spawn in unknown areas in May-July and returning to the mainstream when the river waters fall seeking rearing habitats in September -December . South of the Khone Falls, upstream migration occurs from October to February, with peak in November-December. This migration is triggered by receding water and appears to be a dispersal migration following the lateral migration from flooded areas back into the Mekong at the end of the flood season. Downstream migration takes place from May to August from Stung Treng to Kandal in Cambodia and further into the Mekong Delta in Viet Nam. The presence of eggs during March to August from Stung Treng to Kandal indicates that the downstream migration is both a spawning and a trophic migration eventually bringing the fish into floodplain areas in Cambodia and Viet Nam during the flood season . Common in the lower Mekong, where the young are collected for rearing in floating fish cages. In the middle Mekong it is represented by large individuals that lose the dark coloration of the juveniles and subadults and become grey without stripe . One of the most important aquaculture species in Thailand . A photo of a 44 kg individual was said to have been featured in a Thai magazine (J.F. Helias, pers. comm., Fishing Adventures Thailand, e-mail: fishasia@ksc.th.com). Such a maximum weight also seems reasonable based on length-weight relationship for this species. Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more individuals; not recommended for home aquariums; minimum aquarium size >150 cm .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Fins dark grey or black; 6 branched dorsal-fin rays; gill rakers normally developed; young with a black stripe along lateral line and a second long black stripe below lateral line, large adults uniformly grey . Dark stripe on the middle of anal fin; dark stripe in each caudal lobe; small gill rakers regularly interspersed with larger ones .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Striped catfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Striped catfish is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Assuming same reproductive mode as P. conchophilus.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.5 - 7.5; dH range: 2 - 29; potamodromous . Tropical; 22°C - 26°C ; 19°N - 8°N
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Striped catfish is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 15.8 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 245 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Striped catfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Iridescent Shark · iridescent shark-catfish · Pangasius Catfish · Patin · Striped catfish · Sutchi Catfish · Swai |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | قرش قزحي اللون |
| 🌍CES | pangas spodnooký |
| 🇩🇪German | Haiwels · Pangasius |
| 🇫🇷French | pangasius tra · Silure requin |
| 🌍HEB | שפמנון אסיאתי |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Ázsiai cápaharcsa |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pangasio |
| 🌍KHM | trey pra |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Sum rekini |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Peixe-gato-Sutchi |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Пангасиус сиамский |
| 🌍SLV | progasti som |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Panga · Pez gato iridiscente |
| 🌍THA | Pla Sawai · ปลาสวาย |
| 🌍TUR | Asya Kedi Balığı |
| 🌍VIE | Ca Tra |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helicophagus hypophthalmus | Sauvage | 1878 | Synonym |
| Pangasius hypophthalmus | Sauvage | 1878 | Synonym |
| Pangasius sutchi | Fowler | 1937 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 8 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Striped catfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.