Freshwater Fish in Thailand

Thai Fish

I've added info about some of the fish on offer in Thailand's rivers and lakes. As a personal challenge, I'll only post pictures(below the descriptions) of fish I catch myself. This will be updated and added to over time.

The English and Thai names are highlighted in green for quick reference and comparison.

Common names: Common carp, Carp

Latin name: Cyprinus carpio

Thai name: Pla Nai (ไน)

Thailand status: Native

Max size: 2kg (4.4lb)

Diet: Omnivore, algae, water vegetation, insects, crustaceans, small fish, worms, zooplankton

 Common names: Big Head Carp

Latin name: Hypophthalmichthys nobilis

Thai name: Pla Jin (ปลาจีน)

 Thailand status: Introduced

 Max size: 40kg (88lb)

 Diet: Algae, Crustaceans, Small fish

 Common Names: Giant Siamese carp, Giant Barb  

Latin name: Catlocarpio siamensis

Thai name: Plah Graho (กระโห้)       

status: Native

Max size: 300kg (661lb)

Diet: Phytoplankton, Algae, Terrestrial fruits, Aquatic plants, Worms, Insects, Prawns, Shrimps, Crabs

 Common Names: Jungle Perch, Hampala barb

Latin name: Hampala macrolepidota  

Thai name: Plah Gasoob  

status: Native  

Max size: 8kg (17lb) 70cm

Diet: Carnivorous, mainly fish, frogs and small water mammals from topwater, juveniles will eat insects.

Pla Gasoob from the Nan river in Uttaradit

Common names:  Giant River Carp

Thai name: Pla Yisok  (ยี่สก)

 Max size: 50kg (110lb)

 Diet: Phytoplankton, Algae, Terrestrial fruits, Aquatic plants, Worms, Insects, Shrimps, Crabs

 Common names: Rohu, Indian Carp.

 Thai name: Pla Boo (บู่ทราย)

Max size: 20kg (44lb)

Common name: Chao Phraya catfish

Thai name: Pla Tehpah (เทพา)

Max size: 100kg (220lb)

 Common name: Giant Mekong catfish

Thai name: Pla Beuk (ปลาบึก)

 Max size: 350kg (771lb)

Diet: Phytoplankton, Algae, Terrestrial plants, Insects.

Giant Mekong catfish

Common names: Striped catfish, Siamese shark

Thai name: Pla Sawai (สวาย)

 Max size: 100kg (220lb)

 Common names: Walking Catfish, Gunther’s Walking catfish

Thai name: Pla Duk

Max size: 66.1kg

 

Common names: Spotted Featherback, Spotted Knifefish, Clown Featherback, Clown Knifefish  Thai name: Pla Kgrai, (กราย)  

 Max size: 6kg (13.2lb)

Diet: Carnivorous: Fish, Insects, Worms

 

Common names: Alligator gar

Thai name: Pla alligator, Plah Jarrake (จระเข้)

Max size: 140kg (308lb)

 Diet: Carnivorous: Birds, crustaceans, fish, small mammals

 

Common names: Arapaima

Thai name: Pla Chon Amizon (ปลาช่อนอะเมซอน)

 Max size: 200kg (440lb)

 Diet: carnivorous – Fish, Frogs, Small water mammals and Birds

 

Common name: Pacu

Thai name: Pla Jaramet (จาระเม็ด)

Max size: 20kg (44lb)

Common names: Giant Snakehead, Toman

Thai name: Pla Chado (ชะโด)

Max size: 30kg (66lb)

Diet: Fish, Frogs, Birds, Crustaceans, Worms

Pla Chadow from Sirikit Dam in Urraradit

Comments

If you have similar information on other freshwater fish in Thailand , please take time to leave a comment and I'll add it to the post. If you disagree with anything posted above, I'd also appreciate it a comment so I can check out my information. All comments and ideas are always welcome and very appreciated. Thanks for your time.