Wels catfish (Silurus glanis)

Scientific name: Silurus glanis Linnaeus, 1758

Wels catfish (Silurus glanis)

The Wels catfish (Silurus glanis) is a freshwater fish of the family Siluridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 4–20°C (39–68°F).

Wels catfish care at a glance

Temperature
4–20°C (39–68°F)

Biology

Inhabits large and medium size lowland rivers, backwaters and well vegetated lakes. Occurs mainly in large lakes and rivers, though occasionally enters brackish water in the Baltic and Black Seas. Found in deep waters of dams constructed on the lower reaches of rivers. A nocturnal predator, foraging near bottom and in water column. Larvae and juveniles are benthic, feeding on a wide variety of invertebrates and fish. Adults prey on fish and other aquatic vertebrates. Attains first sexual maturity at 2-3 years of age. Spawns in the salt water of the Aral Sea. Marketed fresh, canned and frozen; can be pan-fried and baked. Locally threatened due to river regulation destroying shallow spawning sites.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Silurus glanis
Family
Siluridae (Sheatfishes)
Order
Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
500
Common length
300
Depth range
0–30 m (0–98 ft)
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 30 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Europe and Asia. North, Baltic, Black, Caspian and Aral Sea basins, as far north as southern Sweden and Finland; Aegean Sea basin in Maritza and from Struma to Sperchios drainages; Turkey. Absent from the rest of Mediterranean basin. Now widely introduced and translocated throught Europe and Lake Balkhash basin in Kazakhstan. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction. In Appendix III of the Bern Convention.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Potential pest
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=3-4; tmax=30)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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