The Amazon Redtail catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) is a freshwater fish species in the long-whiskered catfish family (family Pimelodidae) of order Siluriformes (catfish), native to South America – within the Amazon River basin. Introduced to Thailand.
Amazon Redtail Catfish Diet
The Redtail Catfish predates on small fish and fry.
Amazon Redtail Catfish Identification
Brown back with black spots, white sides and belly.Large red tail and red edge on the black dorsal fin.Flat and wide head with long whiskers. The male Red Tails have a deeper red tail than the females.
Amazon Red Tail Catfish Flyfishing in Thailand
Thailand Flyfishing Season: All Year
The Amazon Red Tail Catfish will take flies fished in open water. Best fly fishing times are early morning and late evening when this catfish patrols the margins in search of small fish and fry. The red tail catfish can be sight casted to as it’s tail breaks the surface when feeding in the margins. However, a violent eruption of water shows where the amazon redtail catfish is hunting.
Red Tail Catfish hunt the margins during the first 2 hours of daylight and darkness when they will take flies within 2 meters of the bank. They are ferocious feeders and scavengers, they eat almost anything. They tend to go on feeding rampages and it appears as if the lake is full of Red Tails. Suddenly they come off the feed and the lake appears empty.
Red Tail Catfish shed their skins, when they shed their skins they stop feeding. They grunt when taken out of the water and have very sharp points on there pectoral fins which should be avoided when handling these fish. The skin of the Amazon Red Tail Catfish is surprisingly dry to the touch and not slippery or slimy.
Red Tail Catfish originate from Brazil, Rio Negro, Venezuela and Surinam. In their natural environment they are solitary hunters, travelling the murky waters of there native rivers. It is believed that Red Tail Catfish are unable to use visual clues to track their prey. They follow chemical trails left by other fish and they use electrical field sensors to detect their prey. These are called chemoreceptors which abound across the catfish's skin. Chemoreceptors act like tongues as Red Tails hunt their prey. This explains why Red Tail stop feeding when shedding their skins; the chemoreceptors shut down during this time. The shed skins can often be seen floating on the water in large translucent lumps of mucus.