Wallago Attu

Datasheet

General Description:The Helicopter Catfish (Wallago Attu) is a species belonging to the Siluridae family, widely distributed across Asia, including countries such as Afghanistan, India, China, and Indonesia. Known for its highly aggressive behavior and dangerous nature, this fish can grow up to a staggering size of 240.0cm, making it unsuitable for the average aquarium hobbyist. Its habitat preference includes turbid, deep slow-moving, or still bodies of water like large lakes and rivers, where it tends to conceal itself in muddy areas, particularly along river banks. Breeding occurs in shallow waters before the wet season, followed by a migration to flooded regions for feeding.

Aquarium Setup:Ideally requiring a minimum tank size of 5500 litres, the Helicopter Catfish demands a bare tank setup with possibly a gravel substrate, as decorations are likely to be destroyed. A robust filtration system is essential to manage the significant waste output of this fish. Regular water changes are crucial for maintaining water quality. Since this species is known to be an adept escape artist, a secure, heavy lid is necessary to prevent it from fleeing the tank.

Behaviour: The Helicopter Catfish exhibits highly predatory behavior and should be housed alone as it poses a threat to any fish that can fit into its large mouth. It is known to be extremely aggressive and may attack anything it cannot swallow, making it unsuitable for community tanks. Caution is advised during feeding, as this fish can lunge out of the water and potentially cause harm.

Feeding and Diet:Highly piscivorous in the wild, the Helicopter Catfish consumes fish primarily, but has been found to have amphibians, birds, small mammals, and even human remains in its stomach. In captivity, small specimens can be fed white fish, earthworms, and prawns, while larger individuals can be offered whole trout. Feeding frequency can be reduced to once or twice a week for larger specimens as they do not require frequent meals.

Reproduction & Dimorphism:Reproduction of the Helicopter Catfish has not been achieved in aquarium settings due to its size and aggressive nature. However, commercial breeding has been successful in pond facilities in Malaysia. Information regarding sexual dimorphism in this species remains unknown.

Habitat and Distribution:The Helicopter Catfish thrives in turbid, deep, slow-moving, or still waters like large lakes and rivers in various Asian countries such as Nepal, Thailand, and Malaysia. It tends to hide in muddy areas and reproduces in shallow waters before migrating to flooded regions for feeding.