- Origin: Southeast Asia and Indonesia
- Order: Siluriformes
- Suborder: Ostariophysi
- Family: Pangasiidae
The freshwater shark, also known as a catfish, is a gregarious fish that likes to live in group when young and becomes more solitary as adults. Despite its vernacular (commun) name, it is not part of the orders that list sharks, but rather the Siluriformes order, which lists more than 3.000 species.
It is rather peaceful in nature and interacts excellently with all large species. It prefer temperatures between 23° and 30°. This freshwater fish is omnivorous; young fish enjoy eating living prey, while older fish switch their diet to plant-based foods due to the loss of their teeth, which do not grow back.
Shiny silver in color, it has tough skin, without scales and its mouth is equipped with barbels on each side : two pairs pf soft, sensitive, tactile filaments that serve as sensory organs, much like our taste buds. It can measure 1.30 meters and weigh over 40 kg. Its lifespan is approximately 12 year.
It is used in the food trade and also sold as an aquarium fish, it is very easy to obtain. The species presented in Tropiqaurium were recovered from individuals who could no longer keep them at home, sometimes due to their ever-increasing size. This group has coexisted successfully with Siamese crocodiles for several years.