As a starting point you can aim to look for likely features that the Catfish may inhabit or patrol, such as their lairs (see habitat) but it is known that Catfish will actively hunt and will follow both scent trails and transmissions from injured fish. Reports of incredible sizes are rare and dubious. The total amount of species has been cataloged at almost 3000 types, however, its said that up to 4500 exist. Fish and Wildlife Service – Web Version - 8/14/2012 6 . Maximum Weight: 62lb 0oz 0dr (30.123kg) wels catfish's exceptionally rapid growth, enormous appetite and longevity. The teeth on the jaw are abrasive and care should be taken whilst handling them as contact with skin can result in a ‘graze’ like wound. It is also called as sheatfish. Although White Sturgeon (Huso huso), grow to weights of 2,200lb, they spend much of their life at sea, and it is quite possible that Silurus glanis is the largest freshwater fish in the world. [Translated from Spanish]” Silurus glanis Ecological Risk Screening Summary U.S. The European record for the Wels Catfish is 316lb 8oz (that’s an incredible 144kg & 2.78m long), ironically caught from the River Po in Italy where they were also introduced as an alien species. A common and large-growing species, the flathead (Pylodictus olivaris) is one of the ugliest members of the freshwater catfish clan, but also one that is regularly caught in larger sizes and which provides a good struggle on hook and line.It is important both for commercial and recreational use and produces good table fare when taken from clean environments. Copyright © 2010 - 2021 Farnham Angling Society - All rights reserved, Copyright © 2010 - 2021 Farnham Angling Society. The wels catfish , also called sheatfish, is a large species of catfish native to wide areas of central, southern, and eastern Europe, in the basins of the Baltic, Black, and Caspian Seas. The lifespan of this fish is about 10-13 years. This fish is the European wels catfish, Silurus glanis, is one of the world's largest freshwater fish and is the largest freshwater fish in Europe. Lifespan: up to 90 years How to catch a catfish Catfish can be large and are very powerful, so strong tackle is essential. Lifespan: These have territorial behaviour. Wels Catfish prefer to inhabit large, warm lakes and rivers with slow current, where they like to stay in deep holes. Catfish come in a variety of sizes (some grow to almost 10 feet in length, while others are among the smallest fish on Earth) and they display an impressive array of behaviors and life histories (some make the longest migrations of any freshwater fish, while other live their entire lives in … Life Span: Up to 90+ Years Wels Catfish have an elongated scaleless body, a large head, tiny eyes, and a powerful forebody with a laterally compressed tail. The Wels Catfish has six barbules: those on the upper jaw are carried straight in front to detect prey, whilst the four shorter ones on the lower jaw hang straight down. In comparison to age, a female bass is larger than a male. It has a very good sense of taste and smell that it can rely on. The British Record Fish Committee unfortunately stopped accepting record claims for Wels Catfish and closed the record list (see above), this followed a period of illegal fish smuggling into England from mainland Europe, during which some claims were submitted citing fisheries with no known history of Wels Catfish being present. The smallest is fully-grown at 20 mm. This once-uncommon catfish is … Average Length: 60cm–90cm: (24-36 inches) It’s rare that these fish get any bigger or heavier. Wels Catfish: Scientific Name: The scientific name of Wells catfish is Silurusglanis. For more information on the Invasive Species Act and Regulations visit www.ontario.ca/invasionON. According to the British Record Fish Committee, the largest recorded capture of the species was set in May when a 147lb (66.6kg) wels catfish was caught at the Oak Lakes Fishery in Essex. Evidence has shown that Wels of 180lb caught in Continental Europe have been as young as 24-years old, so consider how old the enormous specimens that inhabit the freshwater lakes of Russia may be ! The Wels Catfish uses its jaws to grip prey before passing it to two sets of crushing pads at the back of the throat, where the prey is crushed. Wels catfish can live for at least fifty years. Between May and June, the male digs a trough. But there are more and more reports of giant wels catfish that are 9.8-16.4 ft (3-5 m) long and weigh 440-881 lb (200-400 kg). But there are more and more reports of giant wels catfish that are 9.8-16.4 ft (3-5 m) long and weigh 440-881 lb (200-400 kg). Depending on the species, catfish can live from eight to 20 years though the Mekong giant catfish lives more than 60 years. When finding food, the wels catfish’s eyes don’t play a major role. This base colour is marbled with dark blotches and spots and gives way to a creamy yellow belly: providing near perfect camouflage for both stealth and low-level attack. All rights reserved. The Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis) is a species of Catfish native to Northern and Eastern Europe. The catfish and every member of its order has a weberian apparatus. They develop predatory habits and feeding on small fish, insect larvae and other aquatic prey. Halibut pellets, which can be bought in assorted sizes from 3mm (for feed mix and to attract small fish), to 30mm and many sized in between, with some available pre-drilled. Blue catfish normally have 30-35 rays on the anal fin and have an estimated lifespan of 20-30 years. It has been introduced to Western Europe as a prized sport fish and is now found from the United Kingdom east to Kazakhstan and China and south to Greece and Turkey. The Wels catfish can live as long as fifty years. It has been introduced to several other areas including Germany, France, Spain, England, Greece, Turkey and the Netherlands. It has long barbels around its mouth that look like antennae or feelers. All information appearing on this site has been precisely and thoroughly researched, nevertheless should you notice any errors, please do notify us via email. How big can a largemouth bass get? It’s rare that these fish get any bigger or heavier. Silurus glanis, sheatfish or wels catfish, is native to eastern Europe and Asia. Most wels catfish don’t grow longer than 7 feet and 190 pounds. Wels, also called waller (species Silurus glanis), large, voracious catfish of the family Siluridae, native to large rivers and lakes from central Europe to western Asia. It is classified under the classification of Silurus. Catfish will take many types of bait and will often hoover up beds of halibut pellets and boilies, especially those with strong fish and meat flavours. 9696).A nocturnal predator, foraging near bottom and in water column. It is a freshwater fish recognizable by its broad, flat head and wide mouth. They also have a preference for bait with strong and distinct scents. Copyright © 2018-2021 animalfunfacts.net. The Mekong giant catfish is … It seems like some people might be exaggerating. Please note that these large sizes are rare but not unheard of. Wels Catfish often lay in quiet, dark lairs until ready to feed: overhanging trees, weed beds, lilies and hollows under the bank or on a lake or river bed provide ideal locations. Blue catfish species are often referred to as “opportunistic feeders” because they are usually found feeding different kinds of bait fish that they have injured. Or click here to claim a National Record Fish. Discover How Long Wels Catfish Lives. Wels Catfish have an elongated scaleless body, a large head, tiny eyes, and a powerful forebody with a laterally compressed tail. The Wels Catfish is also seen in bright colours, ranging from bright orange and yellows, to albino looking forms with red eyes, whilst others grow almost entirely blue/black in colour. Strong, balanced tackle is required to land larger specimens, with many anglers catching fish whilst Carp fishing with standard car tackle. The colouration of Wels varies greatly between individuals: usually with the back being fairly dark olive green to blue-black, giving way to paler flanks sometimes rusty in colour. The species was introduced to England from Germany in the late 1800s, with 70 being stocked into The Shoulder of Mutton Lake at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire in 1880, having been received as a gift to the British Ambassador in Berlin. Only time will tell how large they grow in British waters. Thanks for your amazing article! The cavernous mouth has hundreds of rows of very small, gripping teeth on both its top and bottom jaws. It can use its barbels to feel and even taste the ground - like a tongue. The population of wels catfish, also known as sheatfish, is rapidly expanding in Germany. It is one of the largest species of catfish in the world. Depending on temperature, eggs hatch after 3 days, the larva of about 7mm long have one barbule and initially feed on plankton. Maximum Weight: 660lb (300kg) In addition, a number of short spikes on the edge of their gill rakers are used to manoeuvre prey, prior to it being swallowed whole. However, the use of the Wels Catfish as a food source does not appear to have been as successful as was anticipated. They prefer to hunt in murky waters and primarily feed during the night. The fish can grow up to be three meters (10 feet) long, weigh up … So providing that your baits are well presented and attractive to the Catfish, there is a good chance that a hungry Wels will find your bait. Their lifespan is at least 50 years. One of the largest catfishes, as well as one of the largest of European freshwater fishes, the wels attains a length of about 4.5 m (15 feet) and a weight of 300 kg (660 pounds). An international research team led by scientists from Estonian University of Life Sciences has for the first time sequenced and assembled the genome of the wels catfish (Silurus glanis). Life Span Length Catfish Fact. These large fish usually range anywhere from 2 to 20 kg (5 to 45 lb) in weight, with uniques specimen sometimes weighing up to 90 kg (200 lb)! Do you want to write a fan factsheet? Depending on the type of species, catfish can in fact live from eight to twenty years, although the Mekong giant lives 60 plus years. 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