Angelfish vs Wels Catfish

Pterophyllum scalare comparado com Silurus glanis

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Angelfish	Wels Catfish
Nome Científico	Pterophyllum scalare	Silurus glanis
Ordem	Cichliformes	Siluriformes
Família	Cichlidae	Ictaluridae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Atributo	Angelfish	Wels Catfish
Comprimento Máximo	15,0 cm	500,0 cm
Peso Máximo	0,03 kg	300,0 kg
Cor	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.	Dark olive-green to slate-gray back with irregular mottled marbling of darker blotches; flanks grade to olive-yellow; scaleless smooth skin; belly pale cream to yellowish-white; head broad and flat.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Angelfish	Wels Catfish
Tipo de Água	Freshwater	Brackish
Faixa de Profundidade	—	0-30m
Distribuição 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 …	Native to large river systems and lakes of central and eastern Europe from the Rhine basin east to the Caspian and Aral sea drainages. Introduced …
Habitat	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.	Large rivers, lakes, and reservoirs across Europe and Asia (Volga, Danube, Rhine, Ob). Inhabits deep, slow-moving freshwater with soft substrates. Tolerates turbid water (15-25°C). Highly …

Aquarium Suitability

Atributo	Angelfish	Wels Catfish
Tamanho Mínimo do Aquário	190 L	—
Temperatura	24-28	—
Faixa de pH	6.0-7.5	—
Nível de Cuidado	Moderate	—
Temperamento	Semi-Aggressive	—

Informações de Pesca

Atributo	Angelfish	Wels Catfish
Peixe Esportivo	Não	Sim
Classificação de Resistência	—	9/10
Recorde Mundial	—	—
Nível de Mercúrio	—	—

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.

Wels Catfish

Fatty, soft flesh with a mild, slightly sweet flavor; quality improves from cold, clean water fish. Popular in Central European cuisines — commonly smoked, fried, or braised with vegetables.

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.

Wels Catfish

The wels catfish is the largest freshwater fish in Europe, capable of exceeding 5 meters. Found in large rivers and lakes across the continent, it has been documented beaching itself to catch pigeons. It can live over 80 years.