The Pangasius Hyptohthalmus is related to the catfish. This species can get up to 3 meters long. It requires 2 to 3 years to reach sexual maturity. The adult fish can reach 20 kilograms and can live up to 20 years. Different from the Tilapia, Pangasius male and female grow quite similar to maturity, and females grow larger when they have reached maturity.
The Pangasius has its natural environment in fresh water; nevertheless, it can tolerate brackish water with a salt concentration of 15 ppm and alum water with a PH < 5. The water temperature range for Pangasius is from 15– 35°C. The distribution area is limited to the tropical areas of Asia, such as the major rivers in India and Myanmar and the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, where the temperature of the water is between 23 and 28 ° C. In addition, the fish is plotted in other river systems in tropical Asia.
Pangasius has a higher number of erythrocytes (red blood cells) than any other fish, plus Pangasius has an additional respiratory organ, and can breathe through bubbles, skin and gasp for air, which implies that it tolerate an environment short of dissolved oxygen, which also means they can be kept in higher densities. Commercial production of Pangasius is accomplished primarily in ponds and cages. Pangasius are stocked at a high density of 60-80 fish per m2!
