Pangasius

Quick facts

Adult size

100 cm, 10000 g typical harvest weight

Days to harvest

180 to 365 days from fingerling

Lifespan (max)

up to 20 years

Diet

omnivore

Temperature class

warm-water

Difficulty

intermediate

Water parameters

Temperature range

22–32°C (optimum 28°C)

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Hardness

2 to 15 dGH

Minimum tank

3000 L per individual at harvest size

Feed and growth

Feed protein

28% target

Daily feed (warm water)

2.50% of body weight per day

Daily feed (cool water)

1.00% of body weight per day

Max stocking density

80 g per litre of system water

A 10000g adult eats about 250.0 g of feed per day at optimum temperature. For a roster of 10 fish at adult size, that's around 2500 g of feed daily.

Legality

Aquaculture and possession rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. This table reflects regulations as of the verified date on each row. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.

Jurisdictions not listed here default to "check local regulations". A non-listing is not a green light; rules in your specific county or municipality may apply.

Habitat and origin

Native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya River basins in mainland Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. The species most commonly farmed is Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (striped catfish or basa), though several related Pangasius species are also cultured. Pangasius is the basis of the massive Vietnamese catfish farming industry, which produces over 1.5 million tonnes annually, primarily for export to Europe, the US, and other global markets. Adults reach 1–1.3 m and 30–40 kg in the wild, though farm harvest size is typically 0.8–1.5 kg. The flesh is white, soft, mild, and boneless, marketed internationally as basa, swai, or pangasius fillets. The low production cost and mild flavor have made pangasius one of the most traded whitefish products in the world.

Climate and outdoor ponds

Climate classification

tropical (needs warm water year-round)

Outdoor pond zones (USDA)

10 to 13 (winter low around -1°C or warmer)

Heating in a temperate climate

Required for year-round operation

Cooling in a temperate climate

Not required

Zone bounds reflect year-round outdoor pond viability with no active heating. Anywhere outside the bounded zone, the species can still be kept in an indoor heated tank or a seasonally-managed system. Verify your specific microclimate, as a sheltered yard zone can run a half-zone warmer than the regional rating.

Care notes

A high-volume, warm-water catfish for tropical aquaponics at commercial scale. Optimal temperature is 26–30°C; below 18°C they stop feeding, below 14°C they die. Growth is exceptionally fast for a catfish: 0.8–1.5 kg in 6-10 months on commercial catfish pellet (28-32% protein). FCR is 1.5-1.8, efficient for such rapid growth. Stocking density in Vietnamese pond culture reaches extreme levels (60-100+ g/L in high-density cages with heavy aeration and water exchange), but aquaponics systems should stock more conservatively at 20-40 g/L. Pangasius are facultative air-breathers with a modified swim bladder that allows atmospheric gas exchange, so they tolerate low dissolved oxygen better than most catfish species. They're active, schooling fish that need horizontal swimming space; elongated or round tanks are preferred over small square systems. The main limitation outside Southeast Asia is temperature: pangasius are strictly tropical and need heated water year-round in temperate climates, with energy costs that make small-scale Western production economically uncompetitive with imported frozen fillets retailing at $4-8/kg. For tropical aquaponics in Southeast Asia, tropical Africa, or Central America where warm water is naturally available and labor costs are low, pangasius is one of the highest-production-volume options. Fingerlings are available from catfish hatcheries across Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Further reading

• Aquaponics water chemistry: balancing pH for fish and plants
• Fish for aquaponics: tilapia vs everything else