Angelfish vs Picuda barracuda

Pterophyllum scalare comparado con Sphyraena barracuda

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Angelfish	Picuda barracuda
Nombre Científico	Pterophyllum scalare	Sphyraena barracuda
Orden	Cichliformes	Perciformes
Familia	Cichlidae	Sphyraenidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Atributo	Angelfish	Picuda barracuda
Longitud Máxima	15,0 cm	200,0 cm
Peso Máximo	0,03 kg	50,0 kg
Color	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.	Steel-gray to dark gunmetal-blue back with a pale silvery-white belly; scattered irregular dark blotches on the lower flanks; tail fin is grayish with whitish tips on both lobes.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Angelfish	Picuda barracuda
Tipo de Agua	Freshwater	Saltwater
Rango de Profundidad	—	0-100m
Distribución Geográfica	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 …	Circumtropical in shallow coastal waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Frequents coral reefs, seagrass beds, and estuaries from Florida and the Caribbean to …
Hábitat	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.	Pelagic, coral reefs, estuaries

Aquarium Suitability

Atributo	Angelfish	Picuda barracuda
Tamaño Mínimo del Acuario	190 L	—
Temperatura	24-28	—
Rango de pH	6.0-7.5	—
Nivel de Cuidado	Moderate	—
Temperamento	Semi-Aggressive	—

Información de Pesca

Atributo	Angelfish	Picuda barracuda
Pez de Pesca Deportiva	No	Sí
Clasificación de Pelea	—	7/10
Récord Mundial	—	—
Nivel de Mercurio	—	—

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.

Picuda barracuda

Firm, lean white flesh with a mild flavor when small; larger individuals risk ciguatera fish poisoning and are generally avoided. Smaller fish eaten grilled or fried in the Caribbean.

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.

Picuda barracuda

The great barracuda is a fearsome-looking predator found in tropical and subtropical oceans. With its torpedo-shaped body, pronounced underbite, and fang-like teeth, it can strike prey at speeds exceeding 58 km/h.