How big does an electric catfish get?

How many species of electric catfish are there?

This family includes two genera, Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis, with 21 species. Several species of this family have the ability to produce an electric shock of up to 350 volts using electroplaques of an electric organ. Electric catfish are found in tropical Africa and the Nile River.

How big can a catfish get?

At maturity, catfish come in a wide range of sizes. Some little guys can be as tiny as 1 1/2 to 2 inches long (that’s about 4 to 5 centimeters) [source: Encyclopedia Britannica ]. Others can grow to absolutely mammoth sizes; they’re definitely contenders for the title of world’s largest freshwater fish.

What are the different types of electric fish?

1 Electric Eel. The electric eel ( Electrophorus electricus) is the only species in … 2 Electric Catfish. The electric catfish are catfish of the family Malapteruridae, … 3 Northern Stargazer. The northern stargazer … 4 Electric Rays. The electric rays are cartilaginous fishes comprising the order Torpediniformes.

How many species of catfish are there?

there are about 36 extant catfish families, and about 3,093 extant species have been described. This makes the catfish order the second or third most diverse vertebrate order; in fact, 1 out of every 20 vertebrate species is a catfish. Blue catfish ( Ictalurus furcatus) skeleton on display at the Museum of Osteology.

How many volts can a catfish produce?

A number of species of this family have the flexibility to provide an electrical shock of as much as 350 volts utilizing electroplaques of an electrical organ. Electrical catfish are present in tropical Africa and the Nile River. Electrical catfish are often nocturnal and carnivorous.

What is an electric catfish?

Electric catfish or Malapteruridae is a catfish family within the order Siluriformes. This family consists of two genera, Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis, with 21 species. This article will give an overview of Electric catfish for sale, size, tank size, care, facts, voltage, etc.

How do catfish grow to be so big?

When born in natural habitats, by the time the fish are three to five years old, they reportedly weigh about 330 to 440 pounds (150 to 200 kilograms) [source: Mattson]. These catfish manage to grow to such enormous sizes through a number of evolutionary tricks. We’ll start with when the catfish are fry.

How big is the biggest catfish ever recorded?

But while there are species of catfish around the globe that can grow to extraordinary lengths, only one can claim the heavyweight crown — the Mekong giant catfish. The largest ever officially recorded was about 8 feet 9 inches long and just a sliver under 646 pounds (that’s 2.7 meters long and 293 kilograms for the metric folks) [source: Owen ].

How big do Mekong giant catfish get?

Mekong giant catfish are commonly cited as having a maximum size of 3 meters and 300 kilograms (approximately 10 feet and 660 pounds). But in what’s got to be the growth spurt to end all growth spurts, Mekong giant catfish hatchlings (called fry) that have been bred in captivity have averaged a 400 percent growth rate in a mere 4 months.

How big can a blue catfish get?

In North America, fishermen will not run across a Wels or Mekong catfish. However, they do have a chance at reeling in catfish that weigh close to 200 pounds. Virginia has produced Blue catfish weighing in at over 150 pounds.

Are there any fish that can detect electricity?

Certain fishes like sharks, skates, rays and catfish can detect electric fields, and are thus electroreceptive, but they don’t generate an electric field so they are not classified as electric fish.

What is the waveform of weakly electric fish?

Weakly electric fish are shown grouped together near the middle of the figure. In different species of electric fish, the EOD waveform takes two general forms. In some species the waveform is continuous and almost sinusoidal (e.g., Apteronotus, Eigenmannia, Gymnarchus).

What produces the electric field in an electric fish?

The electric field of an electric fish is produced by a specialized structure called an electric organ. The electric organ is shown shaded in black in the figure above. The electric organ is made up of modified muscle or nerve cells, which became specialized for producing electric fields.

What is a catfish fish?

Catfish fish represent one of the largest groups of aquarium fish, and also one of the most diverse in terms of appearance and lifestyle. There are more than 2,000 species in approximately 30 families. Some of these fish are sedentary and suitable for a community tank, while others are active predators that grow to a large size.

What is the most fished catfish in the world?

Channel Catfish: This species inhabits much of the United States and Mexico east of the Rocky Mountains. It has earned the title of the most fished catfish species in the world. If you’ve ever eaten catfish, then you’ve likely had this type of fish.

Are there any catfish in saltwater?

Numerous species from the families Ariidae and Plotosidae, and a few species from among the Aspredinidae and Bagridae, are found in salt water. In the Southern United States, catfish species may be known by a variety of slang names, such as “mud cat”, “polliwogs”, or “chuckleheads”.

What do electrical catfish eat?

Electrical catfish are present in tropical Africa and the Nile River. Electrical catfish are often nocturnal and carnivorous. Some species feed totally on different fish, incapacitating their prey with electrical discharges, however, others are generalist backside foragers, feeding on issues like invertebrates, fish eggs, and detritus.

How much protein does a catfish need to grow?

Small catfishes require much protein to grow well. The crude protein required ranges from between 42 – 45% of their feed intake. The same protein requirement could drop to as low as 35% in grow-out fishes of 1kg and above.

How to cultivate catfish?

You can cultivate catfish with other fish species such as tilapia fish, pangash etc. You can stock 4000-5000 catfish if you cultivate with pangash or tilapa. Cultivating catfish with carp fish, tilapia or pangash will help to reduce the feeding costs.

What kind of catfish can produce electricity?

Electric catfish. Electric catfish or Malapteruridae is a catfish family in the order Siluriformes. This family includes two genera, Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis, with 21 species. Several species of this family have the ability to produce an electric shock of up to 350 volts using electroplaques of an electric organ.

What is the scientific name of electric catfish?

Alternative Title: Malapterurus electricus. Electric catfish, any of about 18 widely distributed freshwater catfish species native to tropical Africa belonging to two genera (Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis) of the family Malapteruridae.

How big do electric catfish get?

The largest can grow to about 1.2 meters (3 ft) and 20 kg (44 lb). Most Malapterurus and all Paradoxoglanis species are much smaller, reaching less than 30 cm (1 ft) long. The electric catfish of the Nile was well known to the ancient Egyptians. The Egyptians reputedly used the electric shock from them when treating arthritis pain.

Is the electric eel actually a catfish?

Electric eel might be a catfish. Several people have studied the eel and believe that the characteristics of the electric eel are actually those of a catfish. Free electricity. There are YouTube videos available that show audiences just how powerful those shocks are.