Pangasius
Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
Also known asSwai · Basa
Water parameters
Minimum tank: 3000 L per individual at harvest size.
Feed and growth
- Feed protein
- 28% target
- Daily feed (warm)
- 2.50% of body weight
- Daily feed (cool)
- 1.00% of body weight
- Max density
- 80 g per litre
A 10000 g adult eats about 250.0 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~2500 g daily.
Legality
Rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| us-general | check local regulations | Not established in US waters; import and sale of fillets is legal, live fish import is state-regulated verified 2026-05-14 |
| au-general | prohibited | Classified as noxious fish in all Australian states verified 2026-05-14 |
Unlisted jurisdictions default to "check local regulations".
Origin and habitat
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
- tropical (needs warm water year-round)
- USDA zones
- 10–13 (winter low around -1°C or warmer)
- Heating needed
- yes
- Cooling needed
- no
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.