The Wels catfish or Sheatfish (Silurus glanis) lived initially in eastern Europe and central Asia, but was spread as a food fish over large regions by humans. The species belongs to the largest species of freshwater fish known so far. Current records mention up to 3 m long fish that are as heavy as 150 to 250 kg. The largest Wels catfish described ever in a scientific publication (to the best of my knowledge) was 4.875 m long and had a weight of 295 kg (Kessler, K. T. (1856): Zur Ichthyologie des südwestlichen Russlands. Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou v. 29 (pt 1): 335-393.) This giant was caught in the River Dnjepr near by the city of Krementschug.
Of course most Wels catfish stay much smaller; nevertheless these fish are wonderful eyecatchers for public aquaria or ponds. All Sheatfish in the trade are artificially bred ones. In the wild, the male guards the eggs (up to 20.000 per kg from a female spawner) and the small offsping that reminds one in tadpoles.
Wels catfish are predators; juveniles feed on all type of frozen and live fishfood and accept also readily granulated food. Larger specimens feed on fish and amphibians, adult ones also catch waterfowl and rats etc..
Wels catfish are completely frost resistant, but interestingely the physiological temperature optimum of the species is between 25 and 27°C – pretty much for a so-called “coldwater fish”! However, this makes young Wels catfish easy to maintain aquarium inhabitants, their tank does not have to be cooled at all. We want to take the opportunity to remind our readers that it is strictly forbidden to release any type of aquarium fish (even native species!) in the wild, if the fish is not wanted anymore. This can have a serious impact on the ecology!
For our customers: the fish have code 881003 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Silurus: after the name for catfish used in ancient Greece. glanis: this word also means “catfish” in Neo-Latin (the Latin of the scientists used between 1500 and 1900).
Common name: Wels catfish, Sheatfish
| Angaben zum Tier | |
|---|---|
| Herkunft | Nachzucht / bred |
| Verfügbare Größe in cm | 6-8 |
