The wild spawners that were caught in the Mekong River near Chiang Rai Province between 1984
and 1990, were estimated to be 6-8 years old, and with a body weight of 150-250 kg. (Pholprasith and
Tavarutmaneegul 1997). Mature females are larger than the males. Phayao Inland Fisheries Station
(Phayao IFS, 2000), Thailand, reported that P. gigas that had been cultured from the juvenile stage in
earthen ponds finally reached maturity after 15 years, at a body weight of 40-50 kg and a body length
of about 160 cm
The fish were induced to spawn, but the embryos failed to develop beyond the
somite stage.