Title: World Record catfish
Cichlid Commander - March 10, 2006 11:50 PM (GMT)
Worlds Record Catfish Caught
Chiang Khong, Thailand - Fishermen in northern Thailand have netted a fish as big as a grizzly bear, a 646-pound Mekong giant catfish, the heaviest recorded since Thai officials started keeping records in 1981. The behemoth was caught in the Mekong River and may be the largest freshwater fish ever found.
"It's amazing to think that giants like this still swim in some of the world's rivers," said Dr. Zeb Hogan, a WWF Conservation Science fellow and leader of a new World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and National Geographic Society project to identify and study all freshwater fish over 6 feet long or 200 pounds. "We've now confirmed now that this catfish is the current record holder, an astonishing find."
The fish was caught and eaten in a remote village in Thailand along the Mekong River, home to more species of giant fish than any other river.
Local environmentalists and government officials negotiated to release the record-breaking animal so it could continue its spawning migration in the far north of Thailand, near the borders of Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China - also known as the "Golden Triangle"). But the fish, an adult male, later died. The species is declining, which fishermen in the region blame on upstream dams and environmental deterioration. The specimen is the largest giant catfish ever recorded; it is listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest freshwater fish.
The Mekong giant catfish is Southeast Asia's largest and rarest fish and the focus of Dr. Hogan's project along with about two-dozen other species around the world such as the giant freshwater stingray, the infamous dog-eating catfish, the dinosaur-like arapaima, and the Chinese paddlefish - all of which remain contenders for the title of the world's largest fish. Long shots for the title include caviar-producing sturgeon, goliath Amazon catfish, giant lungfish, razor-toothed gars, massive cods, and Mongolian salmon.
"I'm thrilled that we've set a new record, but we need to put this discovery in context: these giant fish are uniformly poorly studied and some are critically endangered. Some, like the Mekong giant catfish, face extinction," continued Dr. Hogan. "My study of giant freshwater fish is showing a clear and global pattern: the largest fish species are disappearing. The challenge is clear: we must find methods to protect these species and their habitats. By acting now, we can save animals like the Mekong giant catfish from extinction."
The Mekong River Basin is home to more species of massive fish than any river on Earth. It is also the most productive fishery in the world, generating $1.7 billion each year. Fish from the Mekong are the primary source of protein for the 73 million people that live along the river.
Article from the World Wildlife Fund.
check out that bad boy: record catfish
Chiang Khong, Thailand - Fishermen in northern Thailand have netted a fish as big as a grizzly bear, a 646-pound Mekong giant catfish, the heaviest recorded since Thai officials started keeping records in 1981. The behemoth was caught in the Mekong River and may be the largest freshwater fish ever found.
"It's amazing to think that giants like this still swim in some of the world's rivers," said Dr. Zeb Hogan, a WWF Conservation Science fellow and leader of a new World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and National Geographic Society project to identify and study all freshwater fish over 6 feet long or 200 pounds. "We've now confirmed now that this catfish is the current record holder, an astonishing find."
The fish was caught and eaten in a remote village in Thailand along the Mekong River, home to more species of giant fish than any other river.
Local environmentalists and government officials negotiated to release the record-breaking animal so it could continue its spawning migration in the far north of Thailand, near the borders of Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China - also known as the "Golden Triangle"). But the fish, an adult male, later died. The species is declining, which fishermen in the region blame on upstream dams and environmental deterioration. The specimen is the largest giant catfish ever recorded; it is listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest freshwater fish.
The Mekong giant catfish is Southeast Asia's largest and rarest fish and the focus of Dr. Hogan's project along with about two-dozen other species around the world such as the giant freshwater stingray, the infamous dog-eating catfish, the dinosaur-like arapaima, and the Chinese paddlefish - all of which remain contenders for the title of the world's largest fish. Long shots for the title include caviar-producing sturgeon, goliath Amazon catfish, giant lungfish, razor-toothed gars, massive cods, and Mongolian salmon.
"I'm thrilled that we've set a new record, but we need to put this discovery in context: these giant fish are uniformly poorly studied and some are critically endangered. Some, like the Mekong giant catfish, face extinction," continued Dr. Hogan. "My study of giant freshwater fish is showing a clear and global pattern: the largest fish species are disappearing. The challenge is clear: we must find methods to protect these species and their habitats. By acting now, we can save animals like the Mekong giant catfish from extinction."
The Mekong River Basin is home to more species of massive fish than any river on Earth. It is also the most productive fishery in the world, generating $1.7 billion each year. Fish from the Mekong are the primary source of protein for the 73 million people that live along the river.
Article from the World Wildlife Fund.
check out that bad boy: record catfish
Mitternacht - March 11, 2006 12:38 AM (GMT)
wow! I think I heard about this! so cool! :)
Leema - March 11, 2006 01:22 AM (GMT)
How big of a tank would I need for one of those?
MAZZA_402 - March 11, 2006 04:38 AM (GMT)
There are some people out there who would probably think a fish bowl with plastic plants would do fine. Haha!
That's amazing. I couldn't imagine a fish that big. Another reason why you should NOT buy catfish other than corydoras and plecos. They grow up to be 646 pound monsters. ^_^
That's amazing. I couldn't imagine a fish that big. Another reason why you should NOT buy catfish other than corydoras and plecos. They grow up to be 646 pound monsters. ^_^
bartier - March 11, 2006 07:36 AM (GMT)
I should get one of them for my dam. My dam is half an acre in diameter and at the most 3 metres deep I think that would still be too small for that fish.
Cichlid Commander - March 11, 2006 07:36 PM (GMT)
Imagine going hand fishing for one of those. Its crazy.
r33f-boy - March 14, 2006 12:55 AM (GMT)
YEa those things are huge. I saw this show called WildBoyz they were catching a mekong catfish that was in a breeding pool. IT was musch bigger then the dude was. :lol:
Sergeant Major - March 14, 2006 02:09 AM (GMT)
I have seen the picture, it's pretty big, but mostly it's just fat. I've seen many sturgeon caught, that are much longer, but they arn't as fat. I don't know that I would want to swim where that catfish lives.
I wouldn't try to keep that fish in anything less than a 720,000g tank... and I think he'd do much better in a tank 10 times that size.
I wouldn't try to keep that fish in anything less than a 720,000g tank... and I think he'd do much better in a tank 10 times that size.
r33f-boy - March 14, 2006 02:51 AM (GMT)
Seems like they dont have whiskers. Maybe they have super tiny ones.
bartier - March 14, 2006 05:31 AM (GMT)
What is up with the eyes they are in a really weird looking spot.
CatLover - March 14, 2006 04:28 PM (GMT)
I think that we'd be much better off to just live critters like that in the river! :lol: Next thing you know, they'll have one for sale at PetSmart! : :o
r33f-boy - March 15, 2006 02:17 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (bartier @ Mar 14 2006, 12:31 AM) |
| What is up with the eyes they are in a really weird looking spot. |
I think that their eyes are like that due to their big size. Maybe its how they are. Different species have different looks.
And if they sold them at petsmart, I would love to buy one :P
Cichlid Commander - March 15, 2006 04:56 AM (GMT)
Imagine having one of those in the other end of your fishing rod :huh:
bartier - March 15, 2006 06:25 AM (GMT)
It would pull you in with it.