Bony fish · Siluriformes · Siluridae

Wels

Silurus glanis

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

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It is arguably the largest freshwater fish in Europe, outsizing even the sturgeon on some comparisons.

Weight

up to 130 kg

Size

up to 3 m

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

FreshwaterCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Fish Freshwater

47countries 69parks1same family

Fun facts

The male builds and defends a nest, guarding the eggs until they hatch, a behaviour uncommon among large predatory fish.
It eats fish, crayfish, amphibians and occasionally birds or small mammals.
It lives in large rivers, lakes and deep water near dams in eastern Europe and Asia.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - bony skeleton (fish)
Habitat & environment: Large rivers, lakes and deep water near dams in eastern Europe and Asia, widely introduced to western Europe
Birth weight: Larva ~7-8.5 mm long on hatching
Size at birth: 7 - 8.5 mm long at hatching
Sexual maturity: Male: 2-3 years | Female: 3-6 years
Gestation / incubation: 2-10 days (50 hours at 24°C usually given)
Litter / clutch size: Up to 30,000 eggs per kilogram of female body weight

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; USGS NAS Species Profile; Seriously Fish; MISIN; A-Z Animals; FishBase; Farnham Angling Society; Fishipedia; Bill Outtes