The fish commonly known as a yellow tail catfish is actually a hybrid as it is a cross between Phractocephalus hemiolopterus (red tail cat) x Pseudopplatystoma fasciatum (tiger shovel nose cat) and was bred as a food fish but has found its way into the hobby, so if you see one of these for sale and are thinking of buying one remember they will grow, and so will the mouth, so not only should they be kept in a large tank, the tank mates need to be large also






dont get me wrong it is a striking fish, that wont get as big as a tiger shovelnose or a redtail, but it is a predator

Here is another pic

He's a beauty !

I like the sand pic. Does he try to bury himself ?

Not as such, just most cats will move sand looking for any food thats available or has been missed, also the catfish with long barbles, tend to hide/disguise them selves while waiting for food

Do you have a big enough tank for when he gets bigger? I love the redtails and the tigers, I guess you have the best of both.

I want to know what happens when he swallows the plastic Scuba-Diver ?

How big do they clunkster? How fast do they grow?

Not 100% sure as i have found conflicting sizes but the biggest size i have found is 26" . I have had the fish for about 6 months and it has grown about 4" in the time i have had it

He looks about 13-14 inches there.

I guess the growth will slow as he ages. But 4" in 6 months is not bad. He'll be a monster in a year or two !

Yes it could quite well be a monster in a few years, might just have to get another tank

Here are some new pictures

Very nice ! I'm extremely jealous !

You haven't got you new Clown Loaches in that tank ?

Looks like you've stained your stand, as well. Or is that just lighting ?

Glad you like Starting to look a very nice fish now. No i have not stained the cabinet its down to no lights on in the room. Would not dare put my new clowns in this tank yet, as they would not last 5 mins in the tank So they are in the 5 foot till they get big enough to be moved over, but what supprises me is just how much they are out and about

They're a fairly gregarious sort of fish. Mine were always following each other about, in and out of everywhere, not long after arriving. But they've still a tendency to disappear whenever you approach. Where-as the Black Shark, who never used to come out at all, will quite happily remain, when you come over.

I was just showing these pics of yours to the missus;

"Ooooh, what's that fish?"
"It's a Yellow Tail. It'd be about 'this' big..."
"Can you eat it ?", she says !