Paiche vs Cherry Barb

Arapaima gigas comparado con Puntius titteya

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Paiche	Cherry Barb
Nombre Científico	Arapaima gigas	Puntius titteya
Orden	Osteoglossiformes	Cypriniformes
Familia	Arapaimidae	Cyprinidae
Conservation Status	Data Deficient	Vulnerable

Physical Traits

Atributo	Paiche	Cherry Barb
Longitud Máxima	450,0 cm	5,0 cm
Peso Máximo	200,0 kg	0,002 kg
Color	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.	Males are vivid cherry-red over the entire body with a dark mid-lateral stripe from snout to tail; females are pale golden-olive with the same dark stripe; fins reddish to clear.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Paiche	Cherry Barb
Tipo de Agua	Freshwater	Freshwater
Rango de Profundidad	—	—
Distribución Geográfica	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 …	Endemic to the Kelani River basin in southwestern Sri Lanka. Restricted to shaded, slow-flowing forest streams and small tributaries with dense riparian vegetation; population has …
Hábitat	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. …	Clear, fast-flowing streams of Sri Lanka and southwestern India. Shallow, oxygen-rich, cool mountain streams (22-26°C) over gravel substrates. Dense riparian vegetation provides cover.

Aquarium Suitability

Atributo	Paiche	Cherry Barb
Tamaño Mínimo del Acuario	—	60 L
Temperatura	—	23-27
Rango de pH	—	6.0-8.0
Nivel de Cuidado	—	Easy
Temperamento	—	Peaceful

Información de Pesca

Atributo	Paiche	Cherry Barb
Pez de Pesca Deportiva	Sí	No
Clasificación de Pelea	10/10	—
Récord Mundial	—	—
Nivel de Mercurio	—	—

Cuisine & Edibility

Paiche

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.

Cherry Barb

Not consumed — ornamental aquarium fish listed as Vulnerable in the wild; kept for its cherry-red coloration and peaceful schooling nature.

Species Overview

Paiche

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.

Cherry Barb

The cherry barb is a small, colorful fish native to Sri Lanka's shaded forest streams. Males develop an intense cherry-red coloration during breeding. Listed as Vulnerable due to habitat loss and over-collection for the aquarium trade.