The Virtual Aquarium of Virginia Tech--Catfish

Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

 
Physical Description: 
ï¿½	Large, spotted body
ï¿½	Deeply forked tail
ï¿½	Somewhat rounded anal fin margin
ï¿½	Somewhat elongate body, round anteriorly, compressed posteriorly
ï¿½	Sharp dorsal and pectoral spines
ï¿½	Depressed head, small to moderate eye
ï¿½	Profile of the top of the head and nape is straight
ï¿½	Subterminal to inferior mouth
ï¿½	Gray to slate-blue colored

Similar species: 
ï¿½	Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)
ï¿½	Headwater catfish (Ictalurus lupus)
ï¿½	Yaqui catfish (Ictalurus pricei)

Mean body size:
ï¿½	Adults are 300-700 mm standard length 

Habitat:
ï¿½	Warm, large streams, big rivers, ponds, lakes, and reservoirs 

Distribution in VA:
ï¿½	Big Sandy and Tennessee drainages, possibly the New drainage
ï¿½	Stocked in the Chowan, Roanoke, Potomac, James, New and Clinch drainages

Food Habits:  
ï¿½	Young feed on plankton and aquatic insect larvae
ï¿½	Juveniles and adults feed on aquatic invertebrates, fishes

Reproductive Habits: 
ï¿½	Mature around 4-6 years
ï¿½	Spawning occurs from late May to late June-early July in water that is 21-30ï¿½C
ï¿½	Nests constructed in sheltered areas by the male or both sexes
ï¿½	Males care for the eggs
ï¿½	Fecundity is 4,200-10,600 eggs per female per year

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
ï¿½	Most familiar and popular catfish in North America
ï¿½	Raised in hatcheries and fish farms and distributed commercially

References:       

Jenkins, R.E and N.M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. 

Page, Lawrence M., Burr, Brooks M., Freshwater Fishes, Houghton Mifflin co, Boston, MA.

If you are seeking more information for the above species click on the VAFWIS logo (The Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service):