Hemibagrus
Characteristics of Hemibagrus
Hemibagrus (scientific name Bagridae) is a freshwater fish belonging to the catfish family (Siluriformes), originating from Africa and Asia. According to statistics, there are currently 245 species of catfish worldwide with all sizes and shapes. Among them, the catfish is classified as a large fish in the catfish family, with a relatively large size.
The Tri An Lake tilapia has a long, slender body, and dark gray skin with small black spots. The fish's head is large, its mouth is wide and has many sharp teeth. If conditions are favorable and no one is fishing, the fish can grow to a length of 2 meters and weigh up to 100 kg.
Habitat
Hemibagrus usually live in fresh or brackish water areas such as ponds, rivers, streams.... They tend to live on muddy bottoms, silt and slow-flowing water. As an omnivore, the main food of the fish is usually insects living on the water surface, small crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs, small fish and larvae found in the water. Therefore, Tri An Lake is an extremely ideal place for this fish to live and develop.
Reproductive characteristics
Catfish is a fish that reproduces by laying eggs stuck to the substrate
Age to start breeding: 2-3 years old.
Breeding season: The spawning season of catfish is usually in April-October every year, when the water temperature reaches 25-30°C.
Brood fish size: The brood fish are usually large in size, the female fish is usually larger than the male fish.
Breeding behavior: Language fish often choose places with gentle flowing water and a lot of gravel to build nests. The female fish will lay eggs on the substrate (usually gravel) and the male fish will pour sperm onto the eggs.
Number of eggs: Female fish can lay up to thousands of eggs at a time.
Hatching rate: The hatching rate of catfish eggs usually ranges from 50-70%.
Baby fish: The baby fish will hatch after about 3 days and are small, about 1 cm long. The baby will live in freshwater for about 1-2 years before migrating to the ocean.
Distinguishing different types of fish
In Vietnam, there are many types of fish with different shapes and sizes. May be mentioned as:
Yellow hemibagrus
This is the most popular type of fish in Vietnam. The yellow hemibagrus has a long, slender body, and shiny yellow or brown skin with small black spots. The fish's head is large, its mouth is wide and has many sharp teeth.
Dotted hemibagrus
The spotted hemibagrus, also known as the flowered hemibagrus, has a long, slim body, and dark gray skin with yellow patterns. The fish's head is large, its mouth is wide and has many sharp teeth. The flower catfish is smaller in size than the yellow catfish, usually only about 1-1.5 meters long and weighing 10-20 kg.
Red-tail hemibagrus
Red-tail hemibagrus has a long, slender body, and dark gray skin with small black spots.The easy-to-identify characteristic is the red-pink tail.
White hemigagrus
White hemigagrus also has a body similar to other types of hemigagrus. The identifying characteristic is the white skin all over the body.
Black hemigagrus
Black hemigagrus also has a body similar to other types of hemigagrus. The identifying characteristic is the white skin all over the body.
The value of lentil fish
Catfish is a type of fish that has many nutritional and health values such as:
Rich in protein
Catfish is a rich source of protein, which helps build and repair body tissues.Protein also helps the body make enzymes, hormones, and immune cells.
Contains lots of omega-3
Lentils are high in omega-3, an essential fatty acid that is good for the heart, brain and eyes.Omega-3 helps reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's, and macular degeneration.
Rich in vitamins and minerals
Catfish contains many vitamins and minerals necessary for the body such as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, potassium, phosphorus and selenium.Vitamin A helps strengthen the immune system and eye health.Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium.Vitamin B12 helps form red blood cells and maintain a healthy nervous system.Potassium helps regulate blood pressure.Phosphorus helps build and maintain bones and teeth.Selenium helps protect the body from free radicals.
With the nutrients that lentil fish brings, the benefits of lentil fish can help you lose weight, be good for your skin, improve your immune system, good for your eyes, brain and heart,...
Currently, Tri An lake fish is being exploited and farmed to serve people's consumption needs.However, due to overexploitation, the number of wild fish is gradually decreasing.Therefore, measures are needed to protect and develop this valuable resource.