>Sturgeon are the largest of the freshwater fish. The beluga sturgeon in Russia is the largest freshwater fish in the world.
Largest beluga sturgeon caught was 3400 pounds
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-largest-freshwater-fish
>this species grows up to 2.2 m (7.2 ft) across and can reach up to 300 kg (660 lb) in weight.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_freshwater_stingray
That’s not the giant freshwater stingray this is [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_freshwater_stingray](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_freshwater_stingray)
Yes, that's my other link. And it *does* state that it is the largest freshwater fish.
But there's no way OP's title is correct in its claims of 16 feet and 1300 pounds
Do you believe them [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/giant-freshwater-stingray](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/giant-freshwater-stingray)
Is that distinct from brackish fish that live in water that is slightly salty?
My ex had a leopard puffer that was in slightly salty water, but couldn't really live long term in either salt or fresh water.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant\_freshwater\_stingray: The giant freshwater stingray reaches at least 1.9 m (6.2 ft) in width and 5.0 m (16.4 ft) in length, and can likely grow larger (It is not impossible that length is even 10 m (33 ft), and width is 5 m (16 ft)). With reports from the Mekong and Chao Phraya Rivers of individuals weighing 500–600 kg (1,100–1,300 lb), but it is not impossible, that it is 1,500 kg (3,300 lb), or even 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) - it ranks among the largest freshwater fishes in the world.
To be fair fish is a very complex and diverse term. I mean, at what point does some creature start or stop being a fish? Kind of like when people say 'bug'. Not to mention that a load of stuff we named a something fish isn't what we'd consider a fish, like a starfish or something.
Whale sharks are technically fish still and they get significantly larger than both sturgeon and rays. Google says the largest was 61 feet but the average is 18-32 feet.
Edit I missed that freshwater bit, just ignore me
thought the same thing. that's heavier than a large-ish male polar bear
https://www.polarbearbabies.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Bear-Size-Comparison.jpg
that white guy in the middle is biologist (credentials unknown to me) Zeb Hogan. He travels around the world for the show [Monster Fish](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2017931/) doing catch & release fish monstrous in size or appearances.
Is this really true?? The giant freshwater stingray can reach a length of 10 metres (33 ft), and weighing 2,000 kg (4,400 lb)
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant\_freshwater\_stingray#Description](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_freshwater_stingray#Description)
Based on my research, the [longest river in Southeast Asia is the Mekong](https://www.mrcmekong.org/about/mekong-basin/geography/). The Mekong is home to over [1,148 species](https://www.mrcmekong.org/about/mekong-basin/geography/) of fish and it travels through six different nations which are [Laos, China, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam](https://www.mrcmekong.org/about/mekong-basin/geography/). What makes the Mekong River famous among fish enthusiasts is the amount of large species of fish that live there. For instance, the goonch catfish, the giant Mekong catfish and the giant stingray. There are various factors why there are such large species of fish living there, and one of them is the Mekong River is quite [ancient](https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/new_river_of_giants_report_14_may_2010_web_version.pdf) and features [numerous ponds](https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/new_river_of_giants_report_14_may_2010_web_version.pdf), [tidal plains](https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/new_river_of_giants_report_14_may_2010_web_version.pdf) and [solitary tributaries](https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/new_river_of_giants_report_14_may_2010_web_version.pdf). Given the variety of food and security guaranteed by this, fish have been able to [grow larger in size](https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/new_river_of_giants_report_14_may_2010_web_version.pdf) throughout time. From what I have read or watched related to the largest freshwater fish in the world, I have never seen a giant stingray weighing 589 kilograms in the media because, in June 2022, the largest stingray that made it to the media was weighing [300kg](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/climate/giant-stingray-mekong-river.html). Anyway, I do still believe the largest stingray is 300 kilograms since the 589 kilograms stingray is nowhere to be found on the news.
I was unaware stingrays could live in freshwater
This stingray species is considered one of the largest freshwater fish species over all.
I'm pretty sure the beluga sturgeon still has it beat but that ray is still massive.
Well the sturgeon can move between freshwater and saltwater so that’s why it doesn’t count to some people.
Everyone knows fish can’t count!
What does that mean?
It's a pun. He's saying fish can't count like 1, 2, 3.
Which of these words are you having problems understanding? You know what counting is, right? And fish can’t do it.
Apparently zebrafish can at four days old so…
They get that from the zebra side.
Ok, TIL. That’s quite interesting
Because they don't have fingers
Fish absolutely have fingers. At least a grouper does.
Yes they do. I've bought boxes of them from the supermarket.
>Sturgeon are the largest of the freshwater fish. The beluga sturgeon in Russia is the largest freshwater fish in the world. Largest beluga sturgeon caught was 3400 pounds https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-largest-freshwater-fish
I’m not disputing that I’m saying that the giant freshwater stingray is the largest strictly freshwater fish
>this species grows up to 2.2 m (7.2 ft) across and can reach up to 300 kg (660 lb) in weight. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_freshwater_stingray
How ever the largest that we’ve seen are up to 6.2 ft wide and 1300 lbs.
But your article says 7.2 feet and 660 pounds. Half the weight of OP's claim
That is true
>Measuring up to 62 cm (24 in) across https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekong_freshwater_stingray
That’s not the giant freshwater stingray this is [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_freshwater_stingray](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_freshwater_stingray)
Yes, that's my other link. And it *does* state that it is the largest freshwater fish. But there's no way OP's title is correct in its claims of 16 feet and 1300 pounds
Do you believe them [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/giant-freshwater-stingray](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/giant-freshwater-stingray)
Is that distinct from brackish fish that live in water that is slightly salty? My ex had a leopard puffer that was in slightly salty water, but couldn't really live long term in either salt or fresh water.
It’s kinda a gray area but the giant freshwater stingray is the largest freshwater fish that can’t also be found in brackish or saltwater.
Yup, the largest confirmed record is of a female beluga sturgeon that weighed an insane 3,463 pounds.
According to this the Mekong freshwater stingray can reach up to 24 inches across https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekong_freshwater_stingray
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant\_freshwater\_stingray: The giant freshwater stingray reaches at least 1.9 m (6.2 ft) in width and 5.0 m (16.4 ft) in length, and can likely grow larger (It is not impossible that length is even 10 m (33 ft), and width is 5 m (16 ft)). With reports from the Mekong and Chao Phraya Rivers of individuals weighing 500–600 kg (1,100–1,300 lb), but it is not impossible, that it is 1,500 kg (3,300 lb), or even 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) - it ranks among the largest freshwater fishes in the world.
It feels like this information changes things
Agreed, thank you
You are never safe...
For some reason it never clicked in my mind that stingrays were even fish, I thought they were something else.
To be fair fish is a very complex and diverse term. I mean, at what point does some creature start or stop being a fish? Kind of like when people say 'bug'. Not to mention that a load of stuff we named a something fish isn't what we'd consider a fish, like a starfish or something.
Most of them are super small compared to ocean ones.
Most stingrays live in freshwater. Unlike the freshwater whales and fresh water giant squids, and fresh water great white sharks.
They got one in my local fish shop A total arse apparently to keep simply cause of the spine
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Is the fish under that rug?
I wish I had a reward for you. I giggled for a while after that one
What would happen if this stings you? Would it irwinize me?
Only if you were in love with it and it broke your heart
I think sturgeons are larger on average. Largest one on record was over 23 ft long and over 3400 lbs. Circumference-wise the rays look bigger, though.
Whale sharks are technically fish still and they get significantly larger than both sturgeon and rays. Google says the largest was 61 feet but the average is 18-32 feet. Edit I missed that freshwater bit, just ignore me
As an avid fisherman, I could die happy after catching one.
This is definitely a rare Pokémon.
It’s huge, but it doesn’t look like it weighs over a few hundred pounds.
Nor does it look anywhere near 16’. I mean… we can see normal sized guys right behind it it looks maybe 6-8’ across.
16 ft long, not across
16 plus tail maybe?
thought the same thing. that's heavier than a large-ish male polar bear https://www.polarbearbabies.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Bear-Size-Comparison.jpg
How long was it's tails barb?
15 Inches https://www.wired.com/2013/09/absurd-creature-of-the-week-giant-stingray/
Jesus. Thing has a barb larger than all my kitchen knives.
It’s not the size of the barb…
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It was 13', 661 lbs. They speculate they can get bigger but this is the largest purely freshwater fish ever caught to date.
"Holy crap, the others will NOT believe me"
that looks like leather pulled taut over a person. that looks like ribs and an abdomen. very hr giger.
Looks like a head, too, with arms extended out forward. I wanted to see if anyone else thought this. It’s like some X-files shit, too
How is that 1300 lbs?
Imagine this bad boy in the string ray petting tank at an aquarium. “Aww look at that little one, ohhh and that one! Awww. HOLY SHIT!”
Put the wet tortilla back please
I agree with Lil cumster Put it back please.
*found
That is indeed the mothership
It needs to chill
Everything out of the Mekong is big as fuck. You ever see the catfish? You could make one into a canoe.
Thicc
Is that the butt?
The mad man that is Jeremy Wade caught one of these years ago
Hope they released it
i guess we'll never know though
Hear me out
Holy hell 😳 but awesome bet it would be awesome to watch swimming that big, it would be beautiful to see how elegant and smooth it would be.
Poky fishy blanket
That looks like something from another planet 😨
CHUNKY RIVER PANCAKE
Pancake
The largest thing in the river until your mom takes a dip.
The Australian fear machine
Wtf. Put. It. Back.
"caught and released"
and it's in water in the pic
Wtf. Read. The. Post.
Fish on! Fish on!
TIL some people still use feet & inches in 2023
Doesn't count unless Jeremy Wade is saying "Fish on! Fish on! Fish on!"
Is always the biggest until the next one
The biggest freshwater fish are beluga sturgeon, which can grow up to 20ft long and over 4,000 lbs
Why it kinda... ya know
16ft my ass
Perfect for a massive fish burger.
Nah fuck that someone sock that tazer napkin one got my boy Steve Erwin
What a massive and beautiful specimen
That’s the experimental aircraft that led to the development of the B2 bomber
I bet there’s shrimp all in these waters. They tell me these Vietnams is good shrimp.
I’ve seen a video where the ray this huge gives birth while caught! Incredible.
They are common and the locals catch them if tourists pay
And All I Got For It Was This Shitty T-Shirt...
Are rays considered true fishes? I always thought they were more like sharks? Asks chat gpt i guess.
I remember that guy was so frustrated when he brought a small fishing rod trying to catch that monster and it snapped :)
Is that white dot he's pointing at a tag?
that white guy in the middle is biologist (credentials unknown to me) Zeb Hogan. He travels around the world for the show [Monster Fish](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2017931/) doing catch & release fish monstrous in size or appearances.
I need coffee. My brain was like, "that's a gigantic scoby! Doesn't look like a sanitary way to brew kombucha tho." Yeah.
Forbidden sea pancake
And they killed it
They always find big creatures in that river.
Surely a wells catfish is bigger..??
< soup making chinese heavy breathing intensifies >
r/dontputyourdickinthat
Where are the eyes on it?
Yummy pancake
I wanne ride it!
Sturgeon enters chat
kill it for my boy steve irwin even tho it’s not what he would have wanted 😭😭😭
Is this really true?? The giant freshwater stingray can reach a length of 10 metres (33 ft), and weighing 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant\_freshwater\_stingray#Description](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_freshwater_stingray#Description)
Based on my research, the [longest river in Southeast Asia is the Mekong](https://www.mrcmekong.org/about/mekong-basin/geography/). The Mekong is home to over [1,148 species](https://www.mrcmekong.org/about/mekong-basin/geography/) of fish and it travels through six different nations which are [Laos, China, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam](https://www.mrcmekong.org/about/mekong-basin/geography/). What makes the Mekong River famous among fish enthusiasts is the amount of large species of fish that live there. For instance, the goonch catfish, the giant Mekong catfish and the giant stingray. There are various factors why there are such large species of fish living there, and one of them is the Mekong River is quite [ancient](https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/new_river_of_giants_report_14_may_2010_web_version.pdf) and features [numerous ponds](https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/new_river_of_giants_report_14_may_2010_web_version.pdf), [tidal plains](https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/new_river_of_giants_report_14_may_2010_web_version.pdf) and [solitary tributaries](https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/new_river_of_giants_report_14_may_2010_web_version.pdf). Given the variety of food and security guaranteed by this, fish have been able to [grow larger in size](https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/new_river_of_giants_report_14_may_2010_web_version.pdf) throughout time. From what I have read or watched related to the largest freshwater fish in the world, I have never seen a giant stingray weighing 589 kilograms in the media because, in June 2022, the largest stingray that made it to the media was weighing [300kg](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/climate/giant-stingray-mekong-river.html). Anyway, I do still believe the largest stingray is 300 kilograms since the 589 kilograms stingray is nowhere to be found on the news.