Difference in appearance: pike-side fish is generally referred to as pincer fish, with longer body shape, wider anterior part of the body than the posterior part, smaller head, slightly pointed muzzle, subterminal mouth, smooth and scale-free body surface, rich in mucus, and complete lateral line, and there are obvious lateral line holes on the skin. The catfish has an extended body shape with a slightly short cylindrical anterior part and a laterally compressed carapace. Abdomen flat and soft, can be expanded and contracted, body height is larger than the head height, the external contour of the whole body is "chisel" shape; head flat, broader than the head height, blunt round mouth wide, wide and longitudinal compression of the muzzle.

Differences in ecological habits: the barracuda has a wide range of salinity and temperature, and can survive in seawater, brackish freshwater or pure freshwater, and is an omnivorous fish with plant-based bait. Catfishes are mainly omnivorous fish with plant bait. Catfishes are mostly hidden in deep water during daytime, with strong adaptability, inhabiting the bottom, swimming slowly, tolerating low oxygen, and surviving below 1mg/l. Catfishes are rarely active during daytime, but at dusk or at night, they can survive. It is seldom active during the day and comes out at dusk or at night to feed.