FishProfiles.com Message Forums

which is the largest FW fish, i thought it was the arapaima gigas, but today i was watching a sport fishing show, and they said the nile pearch was the largest.

The Mekong giant catfish is officially the world's biggest river fish. It can tip the scales at more than 660 pounds (300 kilograms). The giant stingray (Himantura chaophraya) is thought to be threatened with extinction in rivers such as the Mekong. Some reports suggest this species could reach 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms) in weight and 16.4 feet (5 meters) in length. If confirmed, this would make the stingray larger than the Mekong giant catfish, the current world record holder.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

one thing is for sure though..arapaima gigas is the largest SCALED fish in the world.i actually disagree with the term largest for the Mekong catfish mainly because its just heavier and not longer..arapaima gigas grow longer..but lighter..its just how one looks at the word largest.

EDIT: check this link--->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arapaima

Last edited by ckk125 at 15-Jan-2006 20:04

The Arapaima is really stunning, his sheer size and even the mouth size is astonishing...

Brazilian people also call it Pirarucu... PI-RA-RU-CU... "Ah pa' pinche nombrecito extraño eh"

pangasiaus shark

Here's a recent article on the Mekong giant catfish.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8404622/

Jim

---

Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

If you are going for length then choose the white sturgeon at up to 6 meters or 20 feet in length.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

But don't they migrate to the ocean? That would mean they aren't freshwater.

The nile perch only gets 2m long or 6 feet. That's a far cry from the bear-sized mekong or the giant stingrays of lore. The piracu gets about 12' long, or 4m, so that would make it the longest, again, except for the stingray. My guess is that the stingray is the biggest, but we just haven't caught a monster yet.

Last edited by djtj at 16-Jan-2006 19:39

If one wants to talk about any fish that lives in freshwater at all, Bull Sharks and Sawfish can enter the contest. They're not purely freshwater but they do enter such bodies.

The Beluga Sturgeon would be the largest bony fish, if I'm not mistaken. The Arapaima and Mekong Catfish gain their afforementioned titles as far as I know. It's sad about the Mekong Catfish and Stingrays; such beautiful fish but both sadly endangered. Luckily, Arapaima have been captive bred (if I'm not mistaken?), so despites it's CITES II listing it has a chance.

--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

But at only 8' long, I doubt bull sharks would hold the record for biggest fish, even if they were considered freshwater.
Actually, arapimas are, frightengly enough, becomming avaible in the hobby! I suppose this means they are not as endangered as they once were. However, I couldn't see anyone supporting a 12' fish!

LoL, now everyone knows I'm a noob with shark knowledge.

Arapaima are indeed restricted by CITES II, which generally means they are endangered. However, with proper permits one can sell them. The same case is with other fish such as Asian Arowana that you also don't see too often in the trade.

--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Not fresh water. But i know of a fish that grows 14 feet(4.2m)dorsal fin to dorsal fin and 10feet(3.2m) long and aprox 4000 ponds(1800kg), thats the giant ocean sun fish or mola mola. I've been on a boat with a mate and seen a 2m one of these and there huge.

butterflyfish

Last edited by butterflyfish at 18-Jan-2006 19:58