Angelfish vs Northern Snakehead

Pterophyllum scalare verglichen mit Channa argus

Taxonomy & Classification

Eigenschaft	Angelfish	Northern Snakehead
Wissenschaftlicher Name	Pterophyllum scalare	Channa argus
Ordnung	Cichliformes	Perciformes
Familie	Cichlidae	Channidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Eigenschaft	Angelfish	Northern Snakehead
Maximale Länge	15,0 cm	150,0 cm
Maximales Gewicht	0,03 kg	8,0 kg
Färbung	Silver to pale gold body with four bold black vertical bars including one through the eye; tall triangular dorsal and ventral fins are translucent silver; domesticated forms include gold, black, and marbled variants.	Tawny-brown to pale golden-brown body with irregular dark brown to black blotches and saddles creating a cryptic camouflage pattern; belly is pale cream; long dorsal fin is mottled dark brown.

Habitat & Environment

Eigenschaft	Angelfish	Northern Snakehead
Wassertyp	Freshwater	Freshwater
Tiefenbereich	—	—
Verbreitungsgebiet	Native to the Amazon River basin and associated river systems in Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. Inhabits densely vegetated floodplain swamps, flooded igapó forests, and slow …	Native to river basins of China, Korea, and far-eastern Russia including the Amur River system. Introduced and now invasive in parts of the eastern United …
Lebensraum	Slow-moving rivers and flooded forests of the Amazon basin, particularly white-water and clear-water rivers. Warm water (24-30°C); inhabits areas with submerged vegetation and driftwood.	Rivers, lakes, and ponds of East Asia (China, Korea, Russia); invasive in North America. Tolerates oxygen-poor water (15-30°C); can breathe air. Inhabits densely vegetated shallows …

Aquarium Suitability

Eigenschaft	Angelfish	Northern Snakehead
Mindest-Aquariengröße	190 L	—
Temperatur	24-28	—
pH-Bereich	6.0-7.5	—
Pflegeschwierigkeit	Moderate	—
Temperament	Semi-Aggressive	—

Angelinformationen

Eigenschaft	Angelfish	Northern Snakehead
Sportfisch	Nein	Ja
Kampfbewertung	—	7/10
Weltrekord	—	—
Quecksilbergehalt	—	—

Cuisine & Edibility

Angelfish

Not consumed — a graceful ornamental cichlid valued for its triangular body shape and striking vertical banding; widely kept in freshwater community tanks.

Northern Snakehead

Firm, white flesh with a mild flavor and low fat; valued in Asian cuisines, especially in soups and steamed preparations. An invasive species in North America where removal is encouraged.

Species Overview

Angelfish

The freshwater angelfish is a majestic cichlid with a laterally compressed body and long, flowing dorsal and anal fins. Native to the Amazon basin, it has been selectively bred into numerous color varieties including marble, koi, and platinum.

Northern Snakehead

The northern snakehead is an aggressive freshwater predator native to East Asia. It can breathe air and survive out of water for several days. Considered a destructive invasive species in North America, it provides exciting catch opportunities.