http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/chao-phraya-ani?source=relatedvideo
This is a Chao Phreya catfish – one of the Mekong giant catfish’s closest relatives. And, unlike the Mekong giant catfish, the Chao Phreya catfish is a predator – eats fish. This fish coughed up a few smaller fish – 6 inch-long fish – after it was caught. The Chao Phreya catfish has teeth. The Mekong giant catfish is a gentle giant – it doesn’t have teeth – it doesn’t have whiskers. Even though the Chao Phreya catfish is closely related to the Mekong giant catfish, it does have teeth and it does have barbells. It is built to eat other fish.
Some other characteristics of the Chao Phreya catfish (or dog-eating catfish) are these very long beautiful black-tipped fins – dorsal fin, pectoral fins. This fish can grow up to 9 feet long. On a large [] catfish, these fins can be up to 3 feet in length. It’s just an absolutely beautiful fish and unfortunately, also a very rare species.
We don’t have enough information about the Chao Phreya catfish to know whether it should be classified as endangered. But if I had to guess – I talk with fishermen in northern Thailand, in eastern Thailand – and where(as) they used to catch fish every year, nobody has caught a large Chao Phreya catfish for almost 3 years. The last one I heard about was caught in Chenghong? Thailand in 2003. So unfortunately this species is extremely rare in the wild. And now, very urgently in need of study to assess its conservation status.
Very nice fish and very lucky to get it in this pond here where it has been stocked for recreational angling. A great fish – great catch.
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