Jau catfish

Zungaro zungaro

Also known as Gilded catfish, Jau

FreshwaterFish

Jau catfish (Zungaro zungaro) — Photos: courtesy of Kelly Swing (A, B, C and D), Jonathan Valdiviezo-Rivera (F, G and H) and Daniel Escobar-Camacho (E), from a publication by Daniel Escobar-Camacho, Jonathan Valdiviezo-Rivera, Carolina Carrillo-Moreno, Pablo Argüello, Kelly Swing · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 55.1 in (140 cm)
Minimum tank: 793 gal (3,000 L)
Temperament: Aggressive
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins of South America.
Family: Pimelodidae

Overview

The jau is a heavyweight monster catfish that reaches well over a meter and a hefty bulk, so it needs an enormous tank of at least 3000 liters or a pond, plus powerful filtration and a long-term commitment. It is a predatory, often aggressive fish that will eat tankmates it can swallow and can injure ones it cannot, so it is generally kept alone. It spends the day resting and becomes active and hungry after dark. Feed meaty foods like whole fish, prawns, and large sinking items.

In the wild

The jau is a massive, thick-bodied pimelodid of deep Amazon and Orinoco river channels, resting on the bottom by day and hunting fish at night. It has a broad flat head, a huge mouth, and a smooth olive to golden body. It needs a very large tank with a soft floor, open space, solid shaded cover, and clean warm water at 22 to 28 degrees C.

Good to know

Zungaro zungaro reaches about 140 cm and 50 kg or more, one of the bulkier Amazonian catfish. It is a heavy-bodied ambush and pursuit predator that swallows large prey whole. It is an important food and sport fish across its range and is sometimes listed under the name Zungaro jahu.

Did you know

Its golden sheen gives it the name gilded catfish, and in parts of the Amazon the jau is a celebrated table fish that can weigh as much as a grown adult.