# redtail catfish (*Phractocephalus hemioliopterus*) The redtail catfish is a big fish with a bright red tail! It swims in rivers and loves to eat other fish and yummy plants. These fish can grow very large and are fun to watch in the water. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers ![redtail catfish](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Phractocephalus_hemioliopterus_Natural_History_Museum_University_of_Pisa.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mattia Nocciola, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phractocephalus_hemioliopterus_Natural_History_Museum_University_of_Pisa.jpg) ## Appearance The redtail catfish has a striking dark body, often brownish-black to grey, with a bright white belly. Its most distinctive feature is a vibrant red or orange tail fin. It also possesses a broad, flat head with long, sensitive barbels. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Siluriformes - **Family:** Pimelodidae - **Genus:** Phractocephalus ## Interesting facts - A redtail catfish is a top predator in its Amazonian river home, fearing few others! - Their unique orange and red tails are different on every fish, like a fingerprint! - These big fish can make loud grunting sounds, especially when they feel stressed! - Young redtail catfish can grow incredibly fast, gaining size almost every day! ## Special abilities - **Super Sniffers:** Redtail catfish can use their long barbels to smell and taste food in murky waters, helping them find prey in the dark. - **Ambush Master:** Redtail catfish can stay perfectly still to surprise prey, because of their camouflaged back, helping them launch quick attacks. - **Big Gulp Mouth:** Redtail catfish has a massive mouth that helps them swallow surprisingly large fish and other creatures whole. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-135 cm - **Weight:** 10-45 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Swim Speed:** 10 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 20 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding This hungry fish eats other fish, crustaceans, and anything else it can fit in its giant mouth! - **Primary Foods:** smaller fish, crabs, shrimp, insects, fruits - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Red-bellied Piranha](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-bellied-piranha) (*Pygocentrus nattereri*) — eats piranhas and other fish. - **Hunts:** Tamboqui (*Hoplosternum littorale*) — preys on various smaller catfish species. - **Eaten by:** [Spectacled Caiman](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spectacled-caiman) (*Caiman crocodilus*) — young redtail catfish can be prey for caimans. ## Traits - [Whiskered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/whiskered): Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch fish from a safe distance and never try to touch them in the water. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify redtail catfish? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is redtail catfish? 60-135 cm ### How much does redtail catfish weigh? 10-45 kg ### How long does redtail catfish live? 15-20 years ### What does redtail catfish eat? This hungry fish eats other fish, crustaceans, and anything else it can fit in its giant mouth! ### How fast can redtail catfish swim? 10 km/h ### Where is redtail catfish usually found? Freshwater rivers ### How does redtail catfish hunt? Ambush ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Redtail Catfish: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/redtail-catfish)