ALBINO IRIDESCENT SHARK (STRIPED CATFISH)

The iridescent shark is a species of shark catfish that has become a popular aquaculture species across Asia. It is generally silvery/grey in colour but gets its name for the purple/green iridescence that can be seen along its lateral line under bright sunlight. In recent years, an albino version has been bred in the aquarium trade and these specimens are now a more common sight in Thai fisheries.

Although classed as an omnivore, the overwhelming majority of our fish are caught with non-predator baits with sweetcorn or maize and bread being the most successful. They will respond to a variety of presentations such as a lam ball under a float at around 1.5m depth or a ledgered bait on the bottom in open, deeper water.

The fish can often be spotted topping during the day and can easily be confused with Mekong giant catfish as their tails are often what is seen as they play and feed near the surface. They are also capable air breathers and can survive in low dissolved-oxygen environments for some time.