Where Does Wels Catfish Live?

Wels Catfish lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Wels Catfish

Water type

freshwater

Depth

Typically found in deeper, slow-moving waters of large rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Prefers areas with submerged vegetation, fallen trees, and undercut banks for shelter.

Environment

Large, slow-flowing rivers, oxbow lakes, deep lakes, and reservoirs. Tolerant of a wide range of water quality but prefers well-oxygenated conditions. Often found near the bottom during the day, becoming more active at night.

Geographic range

Native to Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe, extending into parts of Asia (e.g., Kazakhstan, Turkey). Its native range includes the basins of the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and Aral Sea. Widely introduced across Western Europe (e.g., UK, France, Spain, Italy) and other parts of the world.

Explore Wels Catfish