Red Tail Catfish Phractocephalus Hemioliopterus 5cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Red Tail Catfish is a giant South American pimelodid with a dark grey back, white belly and a vivid orange-red tail. Endearing and intelligent as a juvenile, it grows astonishingly fast into one of the largest freshwater fish in the trade. It is suited only to keepers with indoor ponds or public-aquarium scale systems.
- Adult Size: Over 100 cm (40 in) in captivity; wild fish exceed 130 cm (52 in)
- Lifespan: 15–20 years or more
Origin
- Native to: Amazon and Orinoco basins across northern South America
- Habitat: Large rivers, flooded forest and lakes over sandy substrates
Feeding
- Diet: Carnivorous, opportunistic predator
- Preferred Foods: Prawns, mussels, lancefish, earthworms, white fish fillet, large sinking pellets
- Feeding Habits: Feed adults two or three times weekly; avoid feeder fish and mammal meat
Tank Mates
- Best with: Similarly huge, robust fish such as arowana, pacu and giant gourami
- Avoid: Anything small enough to swallow; other red tails and large pimelodids
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Placid but will eat any fish that fits its mouth
- Territoriality: Territorial towards its own kind and similar large catfish
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Advanced, specialist facilities only
- Challenges: Enormous space, heavy filtration and huge water changes; often needs rehoming
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft to moderately hard
- Temperature: 21–26°C (70–79°F)
- pH: 6.0–7.5
- Hardness: 2–12 dGH
- Flow: Moderate, with strong filtration
- Tank Size: Minimum 4,000 litres for an adult; a 10,000 litre indoor pond is realistic long term
Final Notes
Think very carefully before buying: a 5 cm juvenile can reach 60 cm within its first two years, and most home aquaria are outgrown quickly. Public aquaria rarely accept unwanted specimens, so a lifelong home must be planned in advance. Juveniles swallow gravel and decor, so use sand or a bare floor and only heavy, immovable furnishings. For the few who can provide the space, this is a responsive, dog-like pet.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.