5 Interesting Facts About Catfish

Biggest ever

In 2005, fishermen in Thailand caught catfish weighing 293 kilograms (696 pounds), and length nearly 2.7 meters (9 feet). Experts say the fish, which belongs to the species known as the Mekong giant catfish, may be the largest freshwater fish ever recorded.

The biggest ever albino catfish was 2.4 feet long and weighing 88 kilograms, it was caught in Spain by Chris Grimmer in 2011.

Can live more than 100 years

Catfish can reach a length of 3-4 meters (more than 10 feet) and weighing over 300 kg (690 punds), making it the largest European freshwater fish, one of the largest in the world.

Apart from its size, this species is known for its length of life as it can experience age over 100 years. In the fourth year of life reaches sexual maturity.

Dwarf, electric and upside-down catfish

Dwarf catfish or American catfish (Amiurus nebulosus) originating in North America are considerably smaller than their cousins, European catfish. It can grow to a length of 0.5 m (1.6 ft) and a weight of about 0.5 kg (1 pound).

Electric catfish lives in the rivers of Africa. It reaches a length of 0.5 m. It is capable of producing an electric voltage of 350 V so it can be dangerous to humans.

Upside-down catfish is another specie that while young swimming has a normal body position, and when it grows swims on his back.

Catfish that catch pigeons on the shore

River Tarn runs through Albi, and there are oysters on which the pigeons come to swim and drink water. Around this island “patrol” catfish long almost a meter that has learned how to catch birds on the shore. They jump out of the water, catch the pigeon, and come back to eat their “meal”.

During the hunt they stay on the land for a few seconds. Nearly 28 percent of attempts are completed successfully. Since this extreme behavior is never noted for this species, the results of the study indicate that some individual catfish adapted their behavior to hunt new prey in the new environment.

Human bones inside stomach

In the year 2017, Polish fishermen in the Oder river caught a catfish between 90 and 110 years old. This fish was 185 kilograms / 405 pounds, but what was inside stomach of this fish it will shock you. In the huge fish were found human bones and badges belonging to the Nazi officer from the Second World War.

Studies have shown that bones found in the catfish stomach belonged to an SS officer who was killed in 1940 during the occupation of Poland. They had not yet determined whether the man was alive so the fish had killed him or was already dead when fish was eating him.