Anyone who has ever kept freshwater aquariums will know of these Monster Catfish. Many will have seen them in shops and public aquariums but rarely in people’s home aquariums.
Simply due to the size that these fish can grow to and size of aquarium needed to keep them will restrict them being kept by most aquarists.
That’s not to say we don’t want to!
When I started my first job in a local aquarium store, I saw a big bag of fish being unloaded from the Styrofoam box. This box had around 15 – 20 small brown and white catfish with a little hint of red on their tail.
Later, I became aware of these fish and found out they were Redtail Catfish.
Cute I thought!
Slowly we sold them one by one, until after 2-3 months we only had one left. I still didn’t really know what these little Monster Catfish were and didn’t know their true potential.
It was only after 5-6 months when the last one still hadn’t sold and I noticed it was already 3-4 Inches. WOW! This catfish was quickly turning into a little Monster Catfish right in front of my eyes.
We ended up keeping him and making him the star attraction in our store. We had a custom aquarium made with a 10x3x3 Aquarium with custom filter units.
When I got another job and left this aquarium store (to a bigger aquarium store), the Redtail was at around 18-20 Inches in length.
It was at that point I realized that these Monster Catfish are only for the very dedicated and committed aquarists.
Let us take a look at 5 Large Catfish Popular for Home Aquariums
Table of Contents
Shovelnose Catfish (Merodontotus Tigrinus)
Also known as Tiger Catfish, these fish come from the rivers in South America and can be found in Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, and Paraguay. In the Amazon, it is considered a sports fish where they are fished and also eaten by locals who report them to be very tasty.
They are very large catfish that can grow to over 4 feet in length in the wild and in a home aquarium they often reach between 2-3 Feet given the right size tank, water conditions, and food.
Tiger Shovelnose Catfish are highly active fish, and a tightly covered aquarium lid should be used at all times to prevent themfrom jumping out of the tank.
They have a huge appetite and will devour any small fish, so choose their tank mates carefully. They are also aggressive swimmers and have been known to knock and even kill other fish whilst swimming and feeding.
| Scientific Name | Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum |
|---|---|
| Family | Pimelodidae |
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Common Names | Tiger Catfish, Shovelnose catfish |
| Care Level | Medium level |
| Diet | Omnivores |
| Foods | Large meaty foods, Live feeders and Large pellets when juveniles |
| Origin | South America |
| Tank Size | 180 Gallons+ Juveniles 250-400 Gallons+ Adults |
| Suitable first fish? | No-They grow too large and fast for beginners to care for |
| Size | Captivity 2-3 feet in the wild 3-4 feet |
| Water Conditions | Soft acidic Freshwater-75-82° F, KH 6-20, pH 6.0-8.0 |
| Decor | Large items, rocks, driftwood |
| Desirability | High amongst catfish lovers |
| Jumpers? | Only when scared or first introduced |
| Price | Price: $20 Juvenile - $300 Adult |
| Star rating | 4.5 out of 5 |
Red-Tail Catfish (Phractocephalus Hemioliopterus)
The Red-tailed Catfish Phractocephalus hemioliopterus is easily recognized and is one of the most adored and prized catfish species for freshwater catfish enthusiasts. These fish are members of the Pimelodidae family and look stunning with their beautiful red tail and white belly and unmistakable characteristics.
It is also known as the South American Red-Tailed Catfish, Banana Catfish, and Redtail Catfish. As I mentioned in the start of this post, these catfish can grow to over 3 feet or more in captivity and there are reports of specimens reaching up to 5 feet in the wild.
These Monster Catfish have the power to match their looks and has led people to fish them for sport in the wild. You can imagine how much fight a 5 feet specimen would put up.
| Scientific name | Phractocephalus hemioliopterus |
|---|---|
| Common Names | South American red tail, banana catfish, flat-nose catfish, antenna catfish, RTC |
| Family | Pimelodidae |
| Origin | South America |
| Lifespan | 20 years |
| Sociability | Peaceful but predatory |
| Growth | 3-4 feet in captivity. In the wild 6 feet max |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Minimum tank size: | 1000 Gallons plus |
| Tank level | Bottom to middle |
| Care level | Moderate to advanced |
| Water parameters | 68-79℉ or 20-26.1℃, 5.5-7.2 pH, 3-12 dGH |
| Breeding | Oviparous |
| Suitable First Fish | No- Due to how fast they grow and the size of aquarium needed |
| Community Fish | No- They will eat smaller fish. Only house with fish of similar size |
| Food Types | Juveniles- pellets, meaty foods. Adults- Feeder fish, meaty foods and larger pellets |
| Cost: | From $17 - $500 depending on size |
Giraffe Catfish (Auchenoglanis Occidentalis)
The Giraffe Catfish is a large species that requires not only an expert keeper but the equipment to go with it. A huge aquarium and powerful filtration are just a couple of things that you’ll need plus a food budget bigger than a pet dog’s.
In the wild, these hefty bottom-dwellers are known from a plethora of shallow lakes and rivers with muddy substrates; indeed, this species has a huge distribution area, which encompasses much of West Africa, Lake Chad, the entire Congo River system, the Nile, East African lakes, and the rivers Omo and Giuba.
Giraffe Catfish can be very characterful and can recognize and interact with their owners within days of being purchased. You can see by their face the look and almost smiling expression on their face.
Not often seen in the home aquarium due to their size but found in many Zoos and public aquariums due to their looks, size, and personality.
| Scientific name | Auchenoglanis occidentalis |
|---|---|
| Family | Claroteidae |
| Genus | Auchenoglanis |
| Habitat | East Africa to West Africa. |
| First Discovered | 1840 |
| Size | 90-95cm Max |
| Diet | Live foods, Frozen Seafood, Large Pellets |
| Tank size | 200 Gallon Minimum |
| Lifespan | Up to 18-20 Years |
| Water Conditions | 24 - 28°C, pH 6.5 – 7.8 |
Paroon Shark-Catfish (Pangasius Sanitwongsei)
The Paroon Shark Catfish for me is totally unsuitable for home aquariums due to its skittishness when kept in cramped conditions. It is a super-fast and active species of catfish, especially when feeding.
This can lead to problems with the fish banging into rocks, substrates and decor, often resulting in harm and injury to the fish.
These fish are often kept as prize trophy fish and kept in unsuitable conditions.
The reason they are not suitable for most aquariums is not the outright size of the fish but the speed and activeness of the species which requires a lot of water to swim around in. Compare this to many other large catfish that hardly move at all.
| Scientific Name | Pangasius sanitwongsei |
|---|---|
| Family | Pangasiidae |
| Native Habitat | Southeast Asia |
| Max size | 48 Inches |
| Diet | Omnivore, Frozen Seafoods, Live foods, Large pellets, Earthworms |
| Water Conditions | 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) pH: 6.5 to 7.5 |
| Tank Size | 250 Gallons Minimun for Juvenile |
| Lifespan | 18-20 Years |
Ripsaw Catfish (Oxydoras Niger)
The ripsaw catfish or cuiu cuiu is a species of thorny catfish native to the Amazon, Essequibo and São Francisco basins in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Venezuela.
This fish, although classed as a Monster Catfish, can live in a home aquarium if the tank is very long and has a good size water volume. In captivity, it normally grows no bigger than 3 feet but in large public aquariums and zoos it has been seen as big as 4-5 Feet.
Ripsaw catfish are slow-moving and so their bony scutes on the sides of their bodies act as a defense and weapon against predators, hence the name.
These fish are messy eaters and therefore produce a lot of nitrogenous waste, so it is essential to run powerful filtration on your aquarium like Fluval FX6 canister filters and in an aquarium of 200-500 Gallons you’ll need at least two of them.
| Scientific name | Oxydoras niger |
|---|---|
| Family | Doradidae |
| Native Habitat | Amazon, Brazil, Bolivia, Columbia |
| Max Size | 36-40 Inches |
| Tank Size | 250 Gallons Minimun for a Juvenile |
| Diet | Ominvores- Live foods, Earthworms,Large Pellets, Frozen Meaty Foods |
| Water Conditions | 70 – 77°F (21 – 25°C) – pH: 6.0 – 7.0 |
| Lifespan | 17 Years |
Aquarium Requirements
As you can imagine, the aquarium you need to house one of these monsters is going to be large, very large indeed. If you’re wanting to keep one of these large catfish all the way through their lives to fully grown then you’ll need to plan and take into consideration the size of the aquarium and water volume first and foremost.
Secondly, you’ll need to consider the height and width of the tank. It’s not just the water volume that’s important but also the space they have to swim around.
Catfish like the Paroon Shark need a really wide aquarium and can get spooked really easily and jump out of the aquarium. So, a wide aquarium is needed.
The minimum size aquarium recommended for juveniles is 6 x 2 x 2 Feet and as they grow, you’ll need to increase the size of the aquarium and the water volume.
Many people in warm climates choose to keep them in ponds and pools. These have many advantages over aquariums. They offer more water volume and the room to swim. Often 1000 Gallons which is perfect for a medium sized monster catfish.
If it’s going to stay in your home, you’ll need to provide at least an 8 x 3 x 2 feet aquarium.
Water Conditions
There are many types of freshwater fish, in fact 1000’s, but the vast majority will fit into the community aquarium category and will need certain water parameters.
Catfish are no different. The key water quality parameters which need to be continually monitored are temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and ammonia.
Water parameters should be 75-82° F, KH 6-20, pH 6.0-8.0
Feeding Habits
The majority of large catfish are omnivores and require a substantial amount of food as you can imagine.
Feeding a monster Catfish is not a difficult due to the fact that it is not a picky eater. In the wild, these catfish will eat fish and crustaceans. In the aquarium setting, assorted worms, frozen foods, sinking catfish pellets, and dry foods will provide the proper nutrition.
As the fish grows in size so too will their appetite and the portion size will increase. With this not only comes a bigger food bill but also more mess and waste within the aquarium.
You’ll need to ensure you have a suitable filter. As a basic filter, you could try the Fluval FX6. You may even need two or three of them running side by side.
We find creating your own filter and thinking larger scale, maybe a good option.
Biggest Freshwater Catfish in the World
The Mekong Giant Catfish is the world’s largest species of catfish found in Mekong river basin in Southeast Asia. The giant catfish of the Mekong river is a critically endangered species and the biggest freshwater fish in the world.
Mekong giant catfish grow extremely quickly, reaching a mass of 150 to 200 kg (330 to 440 lbs) in six years.
You would think from the size of these fish that they would eat anything that comes in their way, a full grown one could eat a small horse. However, the Mekong giant catfish are toothless herbivores that live off of the plants and algae in the river.
That being said, you don’t see them in public aquariums and definitely not often seen in home aquariums.
Conclusions: Heavyweight Freshwater Catfish
As you can see there are some Monster Catfish available to home aquarists. However, there are vigorous debates on whether these fish should be kept in a home aquarium due to their size and demands.
You can see why; if your Red-Tail Catfish grows to 2-3 feet in length, then what size aquarium is needed and suitable? In fact, would any fish tank be suitable?
I’ll leave this debate for another day and another article.
But one thing is for sure, if you’re looking or asking your local pet store or aquatic shop to find you a freshwater Monster Catfish then one of these 5 Large Catfish will probably the ones they tell you about.
Just be warned what you’re getting yourself into!
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I have been working in the tropical fish industry for over 30 years now and I’m still learning. Everyday is a school day in this hobby. In my spare time I play golf very badly!