Fish Species in Thailand – Freshwater Species

South Thailand’s Jungle Lake and rivers offer the angler the opportunity to catch many different fish species. Some of these fish are only found in Thailand and the neighboring countries.

The freshwater Lake where we fish; is home to some of the most popular sport fish species in Thailand. The flooded freshwater reservoir has created a perfect habitat for large populations of many different species of fish. Below you can read a description of a small selection of fish species that live in the Jungle Lake and rivers.

The species listed below are all a natural part of the fish species that living in the Lake. The information on each species includes; fish identification, scientific classification, local name, common name, natural environment, and also maximum weight and maximum length.

Thai Mahseer

Fish species: Tor tambroides.

Common names: Greater Brook Carp, Thai Mahseer. Thai Name: Pla Wien

Distribution: South East Asia. There are reported catches from Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra, Java and also Borneo, and Myanmar (Burma).

Habitat: The species inhabits both clear rivers and lakes. Preferring clear well oxygenated, running water and dark environments. Mature individuals migrate upstream in the bigger rivers and spawn with the monsoon rains. Read more…

Blue Mahseer

Fish species: Neolissochilus stracheyi.

Common names: Stracheyi Mahseer, Blue Mahseer. Thai Name: Pla Puang.

Distribution: in Asia from Myanmar through Thailand and possibly to the Cardamon Range, Salween, Maeklong and Chao Phraya peninsular in the Southeast Thailand river systems.

Habitat: Blue Mahseer inhabit the same locations as Thai Mahseer; clear forested streams and rivers, and like to stay close to rapids; which afford the shy and elusive Mahseer plenty of cover, and use rocky bottoms for breeding. Read more…

Hampala Barb

Fish species: Hampala macrolepidota.

Common names: Jungle Perch, Hampala barb. Thai Name: Pla Kasoop Kit.

Distribution: South East Asia.

Habitat: It can be found in larger streams and rivers, old mining ponds, with streams running in, lakes and dams. The lake where we fish is one of the places in Thailand. Where there is a large population of Hampala Barb. Read more…

Giant Gourami

Fish species: Osphronemus Gourami.

Common name: Giant gourami, giant Gouramy Thai Name: Pla Let

Distribution: Found in South East Asia to Sumatra, Borneo, Java, the Malay Peninsula, Thailand and Indochina (Mekong basin)

Habitat: It inhabits fresh or brackish water. Swamps, lakes, medium to large rivers, flooded forests, and stagnant water bodies. Including sluggish flowing canals, among vegetation. Omnivorous, feeds on plants and insects, weeds, fish, frogs, earthworms and sometimes dead animals. It is able to breathe moist air so that they can survive out of the water for long periods of time. Read more…

Asian River Catfish

Fish species: Hemibagrus nemurus.

Common names: River Catfish, Asian River Catfish, Green Catfish. Thai Name: Pla Kot Luang.

Distribution: Native found in the Mekong, Chao Phraya, Maeklong, Peninsular and Southeast Thailand river systems. Recorded from Chienmai (Chiang Mai), Pitsanulok, Nontaburi, Bangkok, Tachin (Samut Sakhon), Mep Poon and Tale Sap……

Habitat: Found in most habitat types, but most frequently in large muddy rivers, with a slow current and soft bottom. Read more…

Forest Snakehead

Fish species: Channa Lucius.

Common names: Forest snakehead, Splendid Snakehead. Thai Name: Pla Ka Song.

Distribution: The Forest Snakehead is found throughout Asia, in Thailand, Japan, southern China, Viet Nam, Taiwan and in the Philippines.

Habitat: They inhabit the silty weedy bottoms of still water, but also slow-running rivers; with lots of caves and aquatic vegetation to hide in. Read  more…

Giant Snakehead

Fish species: Channa micropeltes.

Common names: Giant snakehead, Toman, Redline snakehead. Thai Name: Pla Shado.

Distribution: It is widely distributed in the freshwaters of Southeast Asia and some regions of India.

Habitat: The natural habitats for Snakehead fish are swamps, weedy channels and lakes with densely growing vegetation. Read more…

Great Snakehead

Fish species: Channa marulius.

Common names: Cobra Snakehead, Great Snakehead, Bulls Eye Snakehead. Thai Name: Pla Tjon Gnoo How.

Distribution: They are native to most of Southeast Asia. But have been released in many other areas; where they have adapted with great success, including different states in US

Habitat: The natural habitats for Snakehead fish are swamps, weedy channels and lakes with densely growing vegetation. Read more…

Tinfoil Barb

Fish species: Barbonymus schwanenfeldii.

Common name: Tinfoil Barb, Goldfoil Barb, Brassen barbe. Thai Name: Pla Tapien Ang Daeng.

Distribution: Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Habitat: Large Rivers as well as in streams, ditches and manmade canals and can also enter flooded fields. Read more…

Striped Snakehead

Fish species: Channa striata.

Common names: Striped Snakehead, Snakehead Murrel, Common Snakehead, Chevron Snakehead. Thai Name: Pla Chon.

Distribution: This Snakehead species is native to South and Southeast Asia, with a widespread range covering southern China, Pakistan, most of India, Southern Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka…..

Habitat: Striped Snakehead prefer stagnant and muddy water plains; found mainly in swamps and the lowland rivers in relatively deep (1-2 m), still water. Very common in freshwater plains and in medium to large rivers, brooks, flooded fields including sluggish flowing canals. Read more…

Emperor Snakehead

Fish species: Channa marulioides.

Common name: Emperor Snakehead, Dark-fin Snakehead, Flower Snakehead, Toman Bunga.

Thai Name: Pla Chon kha luang.

Distribution: Native to the freshwater habitats in southern Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Greater Sunda Islands (Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes).

Habitat: Emperor Snakehead prefer larger slow-flowing rivers, lakes and swamps including sluggish flowing canals at a depth of around 0,5-2 m. They migrate into flooded fields and return to the permanent water bodies in the dry season. Read more…

Giant Mekong catfish

Fish species: Pangasianodon gigas.

Common name: Giant Mekong Catfish, Mekong Giant Catfish. Thai Name: Pla buk.

Distribution: They are Native to the Mekong basin in Southeast Asia. Historically, the fish’s natural range reached from the lower Mekong in Vietnam; above the tidally influenced brackish water of the river’s delta……

Habitat: Due to development and upstream damming, the species no longer inhabits the majority of its original habitat. The species is now believed to only exist in small, isolated populations in the middle Mekong region…… Read more…

Giant Featherback

Fish species: Chitala lopis.

Common names: Giant Featherback, Indonesian Featherback, Black Featherback. Thai Name: Pla Satu.

Distribution: Giant Featherback is found in Southeast Asia, including Indochina, Borneo, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Java in Indonesia.

Habitat: It inhabits lakes and the slow running water found at river mouths where there is sunken wood and rocky bottoms, also in forest-covered streams. Read more…