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Bangos (Chanos chanos) — Chanidae

Bangos

Chanos chanos
Family: Chanidae
LC · Least Concern
NativeIntroduced

The Bangos (Chanos chanos) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Chanidae that grows up to 180 cm.

Length
180 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
1.0–30.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Tropical coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Ocean.
Edibility
Highly prized

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Description

The milkfish (Chanos chanos) is a large, silvery fish and the only species of the family Chanidae, widely distributed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The species has a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body with a deeply forked tail and can reach about 1.8 metres. Adults live in coastal seas and shallow bays, often enter estuaries and sometimes penetrate fresh water; they form schools near coasts and reefs. It is a peaceful plankton and algae feeder. The milkfish is one of the world's most important farmed fishes, especially in Southeast Asian aquaculture, and is widely eaten.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bangos?

The Bangos has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. The only species of its family; one of the most important aquaculture fishes worldwide.

Where does the Bangos live?

The Bangos lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Tropical coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Ocean.

How big does the Bangos get?

The Bangos grows to a maximum of about 180 cm. On average the species is around 100 cm.

Is the Bangos dangerous to humans?

No, the Bangos is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Bangos edible?

Yes, the Bangos is a highly prized food fish.

More photos

Bangos (Chanos chanos) — Chanidae — 2
Niran Anurakpongsathorn (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Bangos (Chanos chanos) — Chanidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bangos (Chanos chanos) — Chanidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Tyler Busby, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bangos (Chanos chanos) — Chanidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Bryan Harry (U.S. National Park Service) (Public domain)
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All data

Identification

English name
Bangos verified
Scientific name
Chanos chanos
Family
Chanidae
Other names
Bangos; Bony salmon; Giant herring; Milk fish; Milkfish; Salmon herring; Milk-fish; Moreton Bay salmon; White mullet verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
180.0 verified
Average length (cm)
100.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Tropical coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Ocean. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Plankton, algae and small invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
15.0 verified
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
The only species of its family; one of the most important aquaculture fishes worldwide. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Highly prized sourced
Fishing method
Mainly farmed in ponds; caught recreationally with paste bait or small lures and taken in cast nets. sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0
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