Cherry Barb vs Electric Eel

Puntius titteya comparado con Electrophorus electricus

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Cherry Barb	Electric Eel
Nombre Científico	Puntius titteya	Electrophorus electricus
Orden	Cypriniformes	Gymnotiformes
Familia	Cyprinidae	Gymnotidae
Conservation Status	Vulnerable	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Atributo	Cherry Barb	Electric Eel
Longitud Máxima	5,0 cm	250,0 cm
Peso Máximo	0,002 kg	20,0 kg
Color	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.	Dark olive-gray to grayish-brown cylinder-shaped body with a pale yellowish-orange throat and chin; back uniformly dark; scaleless skin has a smooth appearance; long ribbon-like anal fin is pinkish.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Cherry Barb	Electric Eel
Tipo de Agua	Freshwater	Freshwater
Rango de Profundidad	—	—
Distribución Geográfica	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 …	Native to the Orinoco and Amazon river basins in Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil. Inhabits murky, oxygen-depleted floodplain pools, swamps, and slow-moving streams in lowland …
Hábitat	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.	Estuaries

Aquarium Suitability

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

Cuisine & Edibility

Cherry Barb

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

Electric Eel

Not consumed — an ornamental and scientific novelty species kept in specialized aquarium exhibits; edible in principle but extremely dangerous to handle due to powerful electric discharge.

Species Overview

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.

Electric Eel

Despite its name, the electric eel is not a true eel but a knifefish. It can generate electrical discharges of up to 860 volts to stun prey and defend itself. About 80% of its body is dedicated to three electric organs.