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Electric Catfish
Photo: Stan Shebs · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
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Electric Catfish

الرعاش

Raash / Raad

Intermediate✓ CommonMalapteruridae

The electric catfish (Malapterurus electricus) — 'raash' (the trembler) — can deliver a strong electric shock to stun prey and deter predators. Found in the Nile and Lake Nasser, it is a curiosity catch that Egyptian fishers handle with care.

Local names · what anglers actually call it

الرعاشRaash / Raad

electric catfish (Malapterurus electricus) — 'the trembler', Lake Nasser fishers' name

source: WorldFish Lake Nasser report ↗

Size

20–100 cm

Depth

0–20 m

Record weight

up to 20 kg

Habitat

Nile, lakes, slow muddy water

Best seasons

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Fishing techniques

Bottom fishing

Baits & lures

Dead fishWormsOffal

Did you know?

The electric catfish can generate shocks of over 350 volts. Ancient Egyptians depicted it on tomb walls over 4,000 years ago — one of the earliest records of an electric fish.