Found a giant mekong catfish

[tiger15]

Yes, it’s Mekong giant catfish. You probably have eaten it in restaurant under various name, including iridescent shark, basa, tra, and sutchi, swai and fish tarco.

What Is a Swai Fish?

A relative of the catfish, the swai fish has become one of the most common whitefish in the United States. Even if you have never heard of swai fish, you

www.earth.com

 

[BIG-G]

Yes, it’s Mekong giant catfish. You probably have eaten it in restaurant under various name, including iridescent shark, basa, tra, and sutchi, swai and fish tarco.

What Is a Swai Fish?

A relative of the catfish, the swai fish has become one of the most common whitefish in the United States. Even if you have never heard of swai fish, you

www.earth.com

I disagree The Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas)
Is a different fish than Pangasianodon Hypophthalmus

​

 

[krichardson]

Yes, it’s Mekong giant catfish. You probably have eaten it in restaurant under various name, including iridescent shark, basa, tra, and sutchi, swai and fish tarco.

What Is a Swai Fish?

A relative of the catfish, the swai fish has become one of the most common whitefish in the United States. Even if you have never heard of swai fish, you

www.earth.com

I don't mean any harm but how does that prove what the fish in question is?

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Yes, it’s Mekong giant catfish. You probably have eaten it in restaurant under various name, including iridescent shark, basa, tra, and sutchi, swai and fish tarco.

What Is a Swai Fish?

A relative of the catfish, the swai fish has become one of the most common whitefish in the United States. Even if you have never heard of swai fish, you

www.earth.com

You are speaking of Pangasionodon hypophthalmus whlie MGC is Pangasionodon gigas, which is critically endangered and almost extinct in the wild and which is farm bred in some SE Asian countries with the sole goal of conservation and reintroduction into the wild and also hybridization research. AFAIK.

Trade of MGC is highly illegal in the whole world.

IDS normal max size is 4', while MGC can attain 9', hence the epitet "giant".

 

[ZIPLOCKEDBRZ]

Explain your reasoning please, if you will, for the benefit of all who read it now and who will will be reading this thread in the hundred years to come.

he has no idea

 

[Gpdriftwood]

Actual giant mekong catfish have barbels as juveniles. They shrink and go away as they grow.

 

[GiantFishKeeper101]

IME, it is the real deal because somehow to me, the head looks different than the common id shark. I do believe it is real but I do not think it's a wise choice of having 1. They're skittish as they get bigger even in bigger tanks, they grow fast between 1.5" to 3" a month. Prone to damaging themselves when hit the glass or worse case scenario, big enough MGC capable of breaking the glass. Never liked em

 

[Nikokolas]

IME, it is the real deal because somehow to me, the head looks different than the common id shark. I do believe it is real but I do not think it's a wise choice of having 1. They're skittish as they get bigger even in bigger tanks, they grow fast between 1.5" to 3" a month. Prone to damaging themselves when hit the glass or worse case scenario, big enough MGC capable of breaking the glass. Never liked em

Is there like a special distinctive feature to tell them apart?

 

[GiantFishKeeper101]

Is there like a special distinctive feature to tell them apart?

You can read it in my previous post https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/found-mekong-giant-catfish.700708/#post-7897086

 

[vincentwugwg]

IMO, this is a stunted or poor quality / health (because of the oversized eyes) iridescent shark catfish aka Pangasionodon hypophthalmus, junior synonym Pangasius sutchi.

All I know about the MGC ID is here: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...s-how-to-id-mekong-giant-catfish-juvi.584508/

I personally don't believe anyone of us ever had one (I think it is a hoax or a scam, more or less elaborate, to get money out of hobbyists) but some claimed and still insist they did / do, so they can chime in with their opinion too
bobVillanueva
GiantFishKeeper101
vincentwugwg

Sometimes some hybrids seem to become available of unknown Pangasiidae species, which too confuses people. It seems there is a laboratory activity in Asia exploring hybridization of MGC with other species and the products of such (IMHO illegal, immoral, and wretched) activity are spilled over into our trade.

I once hoped mine was an albino MGC ... Seems like it's not one, since I've had it for a few years and it's grown perhaps a few inches in that timeline. Could be some kind of hybrid... who knows.