Catfish range greatly in size from a few inches long to several feet long. Often, the size of a catfish often depends on the species of the fish. For example, Corydoras catfish are known to be extremely small. Mekong catfish, on the other hand, are known to grow to several feet. Mekong catfish are some of the largest catfish recorded. When considering their size, remember that different species will always be different sizes.
How Big Do Catfish Get
Dwarf Catfish are Smaller
When catfish have the name dwarf in front of them, such as the dwarf corydoras catfish, one can always trust that this catfish is going to smaller than other catfish. Most will only grow to be a couple of inches long.
Mekong Catfish are the Largest
Mekong catfish are the largest species of catfish. These catfish call Asian waters home and are often sought after by trophy fishermen. Smaller catfish have been caught that are a few feet long, but plenty that is several feet long have made it to record books.
Country Matters
Specific species of catfish call certain areas of the world home, so it’s important to remember that location matters. While the Wels catfish is large, those in North America have no hope of catching one because it can be found in Europe.
In Europe, the Wels catfish is known to grow over eight feet in length. These fish are known for breaking rods, fishing lines and they remain a dream come true when they are finally captured. Due to their size, fishermen are in for a fight when they go after one of these.
In North America, fishermen will not run across a Wels or Mekong catfish. However, they do have a chance at reeling in catfish that weigh close to 200 pounds. Virginia has produced Blue catfish weighing in at over 150 pounds. Channel cats and other common North American fish can live for over thirty years, so they have plenty of time to gain a hefty amount of weight. These are the fish that break records in North America.
In South America, those that are searching for a trophy fish often find themselves hunting for a Piraiba catfish. This species is known to grow to amazing sizes, with many of them being over eight feet in length. Piraiba catfish take a lot of effort to pull in due to their enormous size, but it is often well worth the struggle to have one of these mounted on the mantel.
Tropical Fish are Smaller
While there are always exceptions, it is a general rule of thumb that most tropical fish are smaller. These mesmerizing catfish are the perfect size for aquarium owners to enjoy keeping them in schools to add beauty to their favorite aquarium. Some are only one inch long while others are maybe six inches long.
These are a few things that fishermen and hobbyists need to keep in mind when considering the size of catfish. To determine the size of an exact species, browse through our informative blogs to find all the information that you need.
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