Pirarucu vs Betta

Arapaima gigas comparé à Betta splendens

Taxonomy & Classification

Attribut	Pirarucu	Betta
Nom scientifique	Arapaima gigas	Betta splendens
Ordre	Osteoglossiformes	Anabantiformes
Famille	Arapaimidae	Osphronemidae
Conservation Status	Data Deficient	Vulnerable

Physical Traits

Attribut	Pirarucu	Betta
Longueur maximale	450,0 cm	7,0 cm
Poids maximum	200,0 kg	0,003 kg
Couleur	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.	Highly variable in domesticated strains; wild type is dull brownish-green with iridescent blue-green scale patches; long flowing fins display intense reds, blues, purples, and teals with iridescent sheen.

Habitat & Environment

Attribut	Pirarucu	Betta
Type d'eau	Freshwater	Freshwater
Plage de profondeur	—	—
Aire de répartition	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 …	Native to the Mekong River basin in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. Found in shallow rice paddies, irrigation ditches, ponds, and slow-moving lowland streams across the …
Habitat	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. …	Shallow, densely vegetated ponds, rice paddies, and slow streams of Thailand and Southeast Asia. Tolerates oxygen-poor, warm water (24-30°C). Males highly territorial; builds bubble nests …

Aquarium Suitability

Attribut	Pirarucu	Betta
Taille minimale de l'aquarium	—	19 L
Température	—	24-30
Plage de pH	—	6.5-7.5
Niveau d'entretien	—	Easy
Tempérament	—	Aggressive

Informations sur la pêche

Attribut	Pirarucu	Betta
Poisson de pêche sportive	Oui	Non
Cote de combativité	10/10	—
Record du monde	—	—
Teneur en mercure	—	—

Cuisine & Edibility

Pirarucu

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.

Betta

Not consumed — ornamental aquarium species prized for its flowing fins and vibrant coloration; classified Vulnerable in the wild.

Species Overview

Pirarucu

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.

Betta

The Siamese fighting fish is famous for its vibrant colors and flowing fins, developed through centuries of selective breeding. Males are highly territorial and will flare their gill covers at rivals. They possess a labyrinth organ for breathing atmospheric air.