Where Does Sailfin Catfish Live?

Sailfin Catfish lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Sailfin Catfish

Water type

freshwater

Depth

Typically found in shallow to moderate depths, often near the bottom.

Environment

Native to slow-moving to moderately flowing rivers, tributaries, oxbow lakes, and flooded forests of the Amazon basin. Prefers areas with abundant submerged vegetation, driftwood, and rocky substrates where it can graze on algae and detritus. In introduced ranges, they adapt to a variety of freshwater habitats including canals, reservoirs, and ponds.

Geographic range

Native to the Amazon River basin in South America (Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia). Widely introduced and established in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including parts of North America (e.g., Florida, Texas), Central America, Asia (e.g., Philippines, Singapore), and Oceania.

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