Arapaima vs Common Goldfish

Arapaima gigas verglichen mit Carassius auratus

Taxonomy & Classification

Eigenschaft	Arapaima	Common Goldfish
Wissenschaftlicher Name	Arapaima gigas	Carassius auratus
Ordnung	Osteoglossiformes	Cypriniformes
Familie	Arapaimidae	Cyprinidae
Conservation Status	Data Deficient	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Eigenschaft	Arapaima	Common Goldfish
Maximale Länge	450,0 cm	45,0 cm
Maximales Gewicht	200,0 kg	2,0 kg
Färbung	Dark olive-gray to grayish-black back with large scales that become vivid red-orange with black borders on the posterior flanks; belly pale cream; caudal fin reddish and rounded.	Brilliant orange to deep golden-yellow body with a metallic sheen across all scales; domesticated forms range from white, yellow, and red to black and calico bicolor combinations.

Habitat & Environment

Eigenschaft	Arapaima	Common Goldfish
Wassertyp	Freshwater	Brackish
Tiefenbereich	—	0-20m
Verbreitungsgebiet	Restricted to the Amazon River basin in Brazil, Peru, Guyana, and Bolivia. Inhabits flooded várzea lakes, oxbows, and large river channels; surfaces frequently to breathe …	Originates from rivers and lakes of eastern China and possibly Korea; domesticated for over 1,000 years. Wild relatives inhabit slow rivers, ponds, and slightly brackish …
Lebensraum	Floodplain lakes (várzea) and large river channels of the Amazon basin. Slow-moving, shallow, warm freshwater (26-30°C). An obligate air-breather; rises to surface to gulp air. …	Ponds, lakes, slow rivers across East Asia; introduced worldwide. Tolerates wide temperature range (10-30°C) and turbid water. Prefers shallow, vegetated areas with soft substrates. Domestic …

Aquarium Suitability

Eigenschaft	Arapaima	Common Goldfish
Mindest-Aquariengröße	—	150 L
Temperatur	—	10-24
pH-Bereich	—	6.0-8.0
Pflegeschwierigkeit	—	Easy
Temperament	—	Peaceful

Angelinformationen

Eigenschaft	Arapaima	Common Goldfish
Sportfisch	Ja	Ja
Kampfbewertung	10/10	—
Weltrekord	—	—
Quecksilbergehalt	—	—

Cuisine & Edibility

Arapaima

Large, firm white fillets with a mild, clean flavor and low fat; historically a staple protein in Amazonian communities. Often salted and dried; sustainable harvest is tightly regulated.

Common Goldfish

Not consumed — a classic ornamental aquarium and pond fish; its vivid color and hardy nature make it one of the world's most popular decorative species.

Species Overview

Arapaima

The arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, reaching up to 4.5 meters. An obligate air-breather, it must surface every 10-20 minutes to gulp air. Its tongue is bony and used to crush prey against the roof of its mouth.

Common Goldfish

The goldfish was one of the first fish to be domesticated, with selective breeding in China dating back over 1,000 years. Despite common misconceptions, goldfish can live 10-15 years with proper care and require far more space than a small bowl.