Pangasius Wels

Beschreibung

Pangasius hypophthalmus, commonly known as the Iridescent Shark or Pangasius Wels, is a large, freshwater catfish native to Southeast Asia. Despite its common name, it is not a true shark but rather a member of the Pangasiidae family. It is characterized by its sleek, shark-like body, silvery coloration, and two prominent barbels. This species is highly significant in aquaculture globally due to its rapid growth rate and adaptability, making it a major food fish. In its juvenile stage, it is also popular in the aquarium trade, though its eventual large size often leads to inadequate housing.

Körperliche Merkmale

Körperform

torpedo

Färbung

Adults are typically uniformly grey to silvery-grey on the dorsal and lateral surfaces, fading to whitish on the belly. Juveniles exhibit two distinct dark stripes along the lateral line and a black stripe along the anal fin, which fade with age. The fins are often dusky.

Schuppentyp

none

Maulstellung

terminal

Besondere Merkmale

Sleek, compressed, shark-like body, Two pairs of barbels (one maxillary, one mandibular) in juveniles, often only the maxillary pair persists in adults, Deeply forked caudal fin, Absence of scales, Relatively small eyes

Rückenflosse

One short, high dorsal fin with 1-2 spines and 6-7 soft rays, followed by a small adipose fin (often absent or vestigial in adults).

Schwanzflosse

Deeply forked caudal fin, with pointed lobes.

Brustflosse

Large, triangular pectoral fins with a strong, serrated spine.

Auffällige Flossen

Anal fin is long, extending from behind the anus to the caudal peduncle, with 26-32 soft rays. Pelvic fins are small.

Bestimmungstipps

Lebensraum

Wassertyp

freshwater

Tiefe

Typically found in deeper sections of large rivers, but also inhabits floodplains and canals.

Umgebung

Large rivers, floodplains, lakes, and reservoirs. Prefers turbid, slow-moving to moderately flowing waters. Often found near the bottom but will ascend to the surface to gulp air.

Geografische Verbreitung

Native to the Mekong River basin and Chao Phraya River basin in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam). Widely introduced globally for aquaculture.

Aquarieninformationen

• Pflegeaufwand: advanced
• Temperament: semi-aggressive
• Ernährung: omnivore
• Mindestbeckengröße: 1000 gallons (for adult specimens)
• Temperatur: 22-28°C (72-82°F)
• pH-Wert: 6.5-7.5
• Härte: 2-20 dGH
• Verträglichkeit: Best kept in very large aquariums with other large, robust, and fast-moving fish. Avoid keeping with smaller fish as they may be eaten. Can be kept in groups when young, but may become more solitary or aggressive as they mature.
• Besondere Anforderungen: Requires an extremely large tank with powerful filtration due to its size and waste production. Needs ample swimming space and a secure lid as they are known jumpers. Substrate should be fine to prevent injury to barbels. Dim lighting is preferred. Prone to stress in small environments, leading to stunted growth and health issues.

Informationen zum Wildbestand

• Erhaltungszustand: critically endangered
• Saisonalität: In its native range, spawning typically occurs during the rainy season (May-July), with peak catches often following this period. Aquaculture production is year-round.
• Marktpreis: Varies significantly by region and product form (fillet, whole fish). Generally an affordable protein source.
• Kommerzielle Bedeutung: high
• Geschmack: Mild, slightly sweet, often described as neutral, making it versatile for various cuisines.
• Textur: Flaky, firm, white flesh.
• Zubereitungsarten: frying, baking, grilling, steaming, curries
• Nährwert: Good source of protein, low in fat, contains Omega-3 fatty acids (though less than some other fish).

Wichtige Fakten

Ähnliche Arten

Wissenschaftliche Klassifikation

Reich

Animalia

Stamm

Chordata

Klasse

Actinopterygii

Ordnung

Siluriformes

Familie

Pangasiidae

Gattung

Pangasius

Art

hypophthalmus

Pangasius Wels entdecken