Catfish is a diverse groups of fish that exists in many different environments across the world. Catfish also have many different physical characteristic. Catfish can be located in river, lakes, and even in an aquariums.
Due to the fact that there are many different types of catfish species, its necessity to understand each different type of catfish to select the appropriate species to either fish for or to keep in aquarium.
Popular Species of Catfish to Know
1. Channel Catfish
Channel catfish live in North America. Channel catfish are one of the most common types of catfish that angler targets.
Channel catfish have slender body and forked tails with black spots along the tails. Channel catfish typically weighs between 3 and 10 pound, though they can weigh as much as 20 pounds. Channel catfish will eat many type of protein based bait such as cut bait, chicken liver, or hot dog.
The flesh of the channel catfish can taste muddily if the water in which the channel catfish live isnt very clean. Therefore, anglers should target channel catfish in areas with clean rivers.
2. Blue Catfish
Blue catfish grow to be much more large than channel catfish and can weigh over 100 pound.
Blue catfish have slate blue color to their bodies and have a straight edged anal fin. Blue catfish prefer deep water with swiftly currents. Due to the size of blue catfish, heavy fishing tackle are required to catch them.
3. Flathead Catfish
Flathead catfish is another species of large catfish. Flathead catfish has broad and flat head. Flathead catfish eat live bait and tend to reside in areas with woody and rocky structure.
Flathead catfish are very territorial with their home range and can live in the same location for many year. The slow reproductive cycle of flathead catfish has lead to many states implementing regulations and laws to protect this species of catfish.
4. Bullheads
Bullheads is a type of small catfish species.
Bullheads typically weigh less than 2 pound. Bullheads have squared tails and thick whiskered. Bullhead catfish can survive in waters with low amount of oxygen.
Bullheads live in small pond and creek. The pectoral spines of bullhead catfish is sharp and can cause pain if they puncture the skin of individuals who handle them.
5. Glass Catfish
Glass catfish is a small species of catfish that are kept in aquariums.
The body of glass catfish are transparent. Because their bodies are transparent, one can view the organ of the catfish. Glass catfish requires soft, acidic water in their tank, and the tanks must have cover to avoid letting the fish jump out of the tank.
6. Corydoras Catfish
Corydoras catfish, also known as cories, is a type of small catfish that live in groups. Corydoras catfish have bony plate along their bodies and use their whiskers to find food on the bottom of their aquarium. Corydoras is a peaceful species of catfish and typically get along with other aquarium catfish species.
However, you must keep the water for the aquarium clean to ensure the health of the corydoras catfish.
7. Pictus Catfish
Pictus catfish have black spot on their silver bodies and have long whiskers. Pictus catfish is an active swimmer and lives in school of catfish.
Pictus catfish are nocturnal and exhibit their most active behavior during the night. Like all catfish species, pictus catfish require a diet rich in protein. Therefore, you should provide high quality catfish food rather than cheap flake food.
8. Electric Catfish
The electric catfish is a tropical catfish species that can produce electricity. The electric catfish use this electricity to stun its prey. The electric catfish can grow to be three feet long.
Therefore, a very large aquarium are required to contain an electric catfish. Additionally, the electric catfish can give an individual a mild shock if they touch the fish during a water change. However, the electricity that the electric catfish produce isnt strong enough to harm an individual.
9. Walking Catfish
Walking catfish is a species that is considered invasive in some area. These catfish species has the ability to move on land. Walking catfish species can breathe air, allowing them to survive in waters of poor quality.
Walking catfish species use their pectoral fin to wiggle across the land. Due to the ability of walking catfish to escape from tank and enter ecosystems, these species are generally avoided as aquarium pet.