Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Also known as Channel cat, Spotted catfish, Lady cat

FreshwaterFish

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) — USFWS Mountain Prairie · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature: 50–86°F (10–30°C)
pH: 6.5–8.0
Adult size: 39.4 in (100 cm)
Minimum tank: 1,057 gal (4,000 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Common
Origin: Native to rivers and lakes of North America.
Family: Ictaluridae

Overview

Sold small and often as an albino, the channel catfish grows large and is really a coldwater pond fish, not a tropical tank inhabitant, so plan on an outdoor pond or a very large tank of at least 4000 liters. It tolerates cool water down toward 10 degrees C and does not need a heater in a temperate pond. It is peaceful with fish too large to eat but will swallow smaller companions, and it is an eager, messy feeder. Offer sinking pellets, and thanks to a lifetime of aquaculture it is easy to feed and hardy.

In the wild

The channel catfish is a temperate North American fish of rivers, lakes, and ponds, at home in cool to warm water and tolerant of a very wide temperature range. It is an adaptable bottom forager that hunts by smell and taste using its barbels, active mostly at night. It suits cool, spacious systems and can handle water from about 10 to 30 degrees C, so it is a pond fish rather than a tropical aquarium fish.

Good to know

Ictalurus punctatus commonly reaches 40 to 60 cm but can grow to around 100 cm and beyond, with record fish passing 130 cm and over 20 kg. It is the most farmed food fish in North America and is stocked widely for angling. An albino form is common in the aquarium and pond trade.

Did you know

A channel catfish is essentially a giant swimming tongue, with taste buds covering its whole body and packed most densely on its barbels, letting it taste prey in muddy water it cannot see through.