Albino Pangasius Catfish Pangasius Sutchi 5cm

Overview

The Albino Pangasius, or albino iridescent shark, is a pink-white, red-eyed form of a large, fast-swimming Mekong catfish with a shark-like profile. Sold as a small juvenile, it grows huge and needs a very large tank. It suits only keepers with monster-fish or indoor pond systems, not the typical community aquarium.

• Adult Size: Up to 130 cm (51 in) in the wild; 60–100 cm (24–39 in) in captivity
• Lifespan: 20 years or more

Origin

• Native to: Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, Southeast Asia
• Habitat: Open channels of large rivers and tributaries

Feeding

• Diet: Omnivorous, more vegetable matter with age
• Preferred Foods: Sinking pellets, earthworms, bloodworm, prawns, peas, spinach
• Feeding Habits: Feed once or twice daily; greedy, so avoid overfeeding

Tank Mates

• Best with: Large peaceful fish: doradid catfish, pacu, big cichlids
• Avoid: Anything small enough to swallow; slow or timid fish

Aggression & Behaviour

• Temperament: Peaceful but nervous and flighty
• Territoriality: Non-territorial; shoals with its own kind

Experience Level

• Difficulty: Advanced (space, not water chemistry)
• Challenges: Enormous adult size; panics and injures itself in small tanks

Water Parameters

• Water Type: Freshwater, adaptable
• Temperature: 22–26°C (72–79°F)
• pH: 6.5–7.5
• Hardness: 2–20 dGH
• Flow: Moderate to strong
• Tank Size: Minimum 1000 litres for juveniles; adults need several thousand litres

Final Notes

Think hard before buying: this fish grows quickly, easily reaching 30 cm in its first year, and will spend decades needing a tank far beyond most homes. It is a shoaling species that calms down in a group, but startles easily and can crash into glass, so keep lighting subdued and the tank uncluttered. Albinos have poor eyesight and rely on their barbels. Given real space, it is a graceful and long-lived giant.