{"product_id":"blue-salmontail-catfish-neoarius-graeffei","title":"Blue Salmontail Catfish | Neoarius graeffei","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Blue Salmontail Catfish is a sleek, fork-tailed Australian native that cruises the tank almost constantly and grows genuinely large — up to around 60 cm. Peaceful for its size but a serious commitment, it is a statement fish for a very big, brackish-tolerant system and a keeper prepared for its adult bulk. Note that it carries venomous fin spines, so handle with care.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eNeoarius graeffei is found across northern and eastern Australia and New Guinea, in coastal rivers, lagoons, estuaries and tidal reaches. Adults move freely between fresh, brackish and even coastal marine waters, so they are naturally adapted to a wide range of salinity.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA classic eel-tailed silhouette is wrong here — this is a fork-tailed catfish with a broad head, sensory barbels and a streamlined, silvery-blue to grey body built for constant swimming. It is a powerful, active fish that needs open water to move.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eGenerally peaceful and not aggressive, but its sheer size means small fish will be eaten simply as food. House it only with robust, similarly large tankmates that can share its brackish-tolerant, high-flow conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn omnivore with a hearty appetite, it takes quality sinking pellets, prawn and fish pieces, mussel, earthworms and frozen foods. Feed generously to match its constant activity, but keep water quality high as it is a big, messy fish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis species needs space above all — a very large tank of 900 L or more for an adult, with strong filtration and flow. It is highly adaptable to temperature (tolerating roughly 15–30 °C) and thrives in hard, often lightly brackish water at a specific gravity of about 1.005–1.015. Not plant safe, as its size and activity will uproot most plantings. Take great care when netting or handling: the pectoral and dorsal spines are venomous and deliver a very painful sting.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eNeoarius graeffei is a paternal mouthbrooder — the male carries the large eggs and developing young in his mouth. Breeding is essentially unheard of in home aquaria given the space and conditions required, so this is a fish kept for its presence rather than for breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeoarius graeffei\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlue Salmontail Catfish (Lesser Salmon Catfish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNorthern and eastern Australia, New Guinea\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 60 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–12 years or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful but large (eats small fish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e900 L for an adult\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1000 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore: sinking pellets, prawn, fish, mussel, earthworms, frozen foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–30 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.0–8.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard, around 12–30 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater to brackish (SG ~1.005–1.015)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery large freshwater and brackish systems\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo (uproots plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other large, robust brackish-tolerant fish such as scats, monos, archerfish, larger gars and other big catfish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with any small fish that can be swallowed, delicate species, and soft-water community fish. Take care handling, as the spines are venomous.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232771588387,"sku":null,"price":160.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232771621155,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232771653923,"sku":null,"price":215.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-60cm)","offer_id":55351957422371,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Blue_Salmontail_Catfish_Neoarius_graeffei.png?v=1781482307","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/blue-salmontail-catfish-neoarius-graeffei","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}