Arius graeffei Kner and Steindachner, 1867
Pronounced: are-EE-us graf-ee


Salmontail adult

 

 


Salmontail juveniles

Quick Facts

 

Availability
Hardiness

Overall appeal

Common name
Salmontail Catfish;
Shark Cat; Sea Catfish
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Adult size
in the aquarium....
can reach to around 30 centimetres
in the wild....
may reach over 60 centimetres
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Sexing
 There are no obvious differences, although females are plumper when over 30 centimetres.
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Diet
Carnivore/Omnivore
in the aquarium....
 they will eat anything, including earthworms, beefheart, frozen brine shrimp, prawns, pellets, tablets and large flake.
in the wild....
they feed on insect larvae, aquatic plants, prawns, crayfish, molluscs, detritus and small fish.
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Swimming level
They inhabit the middle and bototm levels of the aquarium.
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Recommended for
Large robust and active aquariums; Central American tank; brackish water tank; Australian native tank. 

 

  • The genus name Arius is derived from the Greek word apelos (pronounced are-a-os) meaning sanctified by Mars, the god of war and refers to the bony structure extending from the skull covering to the powerful thorn of the first dorsal fin ray.
  • The species name graeffei is a patronym, named after Eduard Graeffe, 1833-1916, an Austrian natural history worker, who wroteabout, among other works, the Marine Fauna and Fauna of Rottnest Island, Western Australia.
  • The genus Arius is widespread throughout Asia, Africa, Australia, South and Central America.
  • There are around 80 species with most of them occurring along the coastline and inestuaries and coastal lagoons.
  • This gives them one of the common names for this genus - Sea Catfish.
  • The most widely used common name Salmontail comes from the shape of the tail - resembling the tail of a salmon.
  • Another name they are known by is Shark Cat. This comes from the erect dorsal fin, which resembles the fin of a shark and the fact that they seem to be constantly cruising.
  • Arius graeffei is one of only five of the genus Arius represented in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
  • Of the five, only Arius graeffei and Arius berneyi are considered suitable for keeping in an aquarium as the rest get too big for captivity.
  • They have poisonous spines on the dorsal and pectoral fins that inflict a painful injury.
  • They are considered to be a food fish across most of its native habitat - they taste good if prepared properly but some fisherman treat them as pests as they can get caught in their nets and can take a considerable amount of time to disentangle them.
  • They are being studied by the Australian Defence Force (through the University of Queensland) because of their supieor sensory capabilities. It is thought they may one day be able to replace conventional sonar to detect marine threats such as mines. This research has a long way to go before military applications can be realised.
  • Adult fish can make a loud, croaking sound by rotating the pectoral fin in its socket. This sound is amplified through the swim bladder.

  • Description....
    • The body of Arius graeffei is elongated and narrowing at the head and caudal peduncle.
    • The caudal peduncle is quite short in comparison to the overall length of the body.
    • The caudal fin is large and forked.
    • The head is large and broad.
    • The eyes are quite large and reflective protrude slightly from the head. They are placed at the side of the head.
    • The large mouth has three pairs of barbels. One pair is on the upper jaw and two are on the lower jaw.
    • The pelvic fins are set back on the body, close to the anal fin.
    • The colour is an overall sooty brown, darker on the top of the body and fading to creamy-white on the belly.
    • The fins are black.
    • The colour contrast is more obvious in juveniles.
  • Similar species....
    • Other Arius species, especially Arius berneyi and Arius leptaspis (Triangular Shield Catfish). The habitat of all three overlaps around the Gulf of Carpentaris and the top of Western Australia.
    • Arius leptaspis can be distinguished from Arius graeffei by its rounded snout and stout, non-flattened head.
    • Arius berneyi can be distinguished from Arius graeffei by its taller dorsal fin and slightly larger eye.
  • Taxonomy and systematics....
    • Systematic hierarchy:
      • Kingdom: Animalia
        • Phylum: Chordata: Sub-phylum: Vertebrates - Group: Fish
          • Class: Osteichthyes (Bony Fish): Sub-class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fish)
            • Order: Siluiformes (Catfish)
              • Family: Ariidae
                • Genus: Arius
                  • Species: graeffei
  • Geographical variants.... Piebald and albino fish are known in the wild.

  • Arius graeffei is found, in Australia, from the Houtman Abrolhos Islands in Western Australia to the Hunter River in , New South Wales and in Papua New Guinea, in the Purari River.


The following information relating to tank size, decoration and tank mates is indicative and intended to be used as a rough guide only. Other possible tank mates are listed under Compatibility and there are many plants and decorations that can be used - just ask us.

  • Tank....
    • A 100 centimetre tank of around 200 litres capacity is sufficient for young individuals.
    • Adults need a tank of at least 150 centimetres.
    • Example - Australian native tank:
      • Tank capacity: 460 litres
      • Tank type: HRB-1800
        • 180 centimetre (6 foot or72 inch) tank
        • 1 x 40W, 2 x 30W and 2 x 20W fluorescent tubes
      • Fish ideas:
        • 2 x Arius graeffei
        • 1 x Lutjanus argentimaculatus
        • 2 x Scatophages multifasciata
        • 1 x Oxyeleotris lineolata
        • 3 x Toxotes jaculatrix
      • Building the tank:
        • Background - eg. external printed dark blue or black; black plastic.
        • Substrate - River sand, 3mm black gravel, 3mm Coffs Harbour gravel; roughly 25kg sand and 40kg gravel mixed together.
        • Decoration - Driftwood, river stones, sandstone 'boulders'.
        • Plants - Straight Val - Vallisneria spiralis
  • Maintenance and Disease....
    • Arius graeffei should be kept in brackish water to maintain health.
    • A 1-2 percent addition of salt is required. Add about 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of aquarium salt per 4 litres of water to keep them healthy.
    • Leave open swimming areas.
    • The pH should be kept alkaline.
    • The tank should be well lit.
    • A strong filter is necessary for a powerful current and a good turn-over rate.
    • Caves and hiding places should be provided.
    • This species prefers food in chunks. They have a huge appetite and may eat other tank mates if not fed sufficiently.
    • If they are not fed enough they may waste away, becoming very thin and hollow. By the same token, it is also possible to overfeed them as they are such a greedy eater.
    • Water parameters:
      • pH: neutral to alkaline (7.2-8.0: optimal 7.5)
      • Hardness: moderate to hard (14-30: optimal 20)
      • Temperature: 11-35oC.
  • Compatibility....
    • Arius graeffei should only be kept with larger, sturdy fish who live in brackish water.
    • The Salmontail Catfish is capable of swallowing fish up to 2/3 of their length.
    • Keep at least two, as one will usually sit on the bottom and sulk. groups of four or more individuals.
    • Despite their size they are peaceful fish, but they should not be mixed with anything small enough to be swallowed.


    • The fish listed below are indicative of the species that can be kept with this fish. Other fish may also be suitable - please ask us which other fish are compatible.

    Australia/New Guinea
    Silver Scat (Scatophagus multifasciata)
    Mono (Monodactylus argenteus)
    Melanotaenia trifasciata     Goyder River
    Saratoga (Sclerophages leichardti)
    Murray River Cod (Maccullochella peelii)
    Barramundi (Lates calcarifer)
    Archerfish (Toxotes jaculatrix)
    Other Catfish
    Eeltail Catfish (Tandanus tandanus)
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    Central America
     Festae (Nandopsis festae)
    Snook (Petenia splendida)
    Jack Dempsey (Nandopsis octofasciata)
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    South America
    Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus)
    Leporinus (Leporinus fasciatus)
    Sailfin Pleco (Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps)
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    Africa - Riverine
    Polleni (Paratilapia polleni)
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    Asia
    Green Chromide (Etroplus suratensis)
    Tin Foil Barb (Barbus schwanfeldi)
  • Breeding....
    • Arius graeffei have an unusual breeding pattern for a catfish. They are a mouthbrooder.
    • The male incubates the eggs in his mouth for between 2 and 4 weeks at a temperature of 32oC.
    • When hatched the young are relatively large and at 2 months of age they are about 6 centimetres long.
    • The females pelvic fins are modified into “claspers” to assist in holding the eggs as they are laid.
    • The breeding season in the wild is reported to be the beginning of the wet season ( spring or early summer).
    • Spawning takes places in freshwater and brackish estuaries, where uo to 100 marble-sized eggs are laid.
    • Marine populations of A. graeffei appear to undertake extensive anadromous - from the Greek anadromos meaning running upwards - migrations (from the sea into the river) associated with breeding.
    • Breeding in captivity is unsuccessful because of the area needed.

 

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