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Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque, 1818)

 

Image contributors to this species:

Kev Langton (1) Paul A.Scharf (1) Andy Smith (1) Michael Diangelo (1) Allan James (1) Amanda MacGregor (1 Drawing) Jane Bedford (2) Karl-Heinz Dau (1 Stamp) Reinhold Wawrzynski (6) Lawrence Kent (1) Cheilinus Aquarium Photography (2)

ScotCat Sources:

Factsheet  Article  Art Gallery  Etymology = Genus  Etymology = Species

Other Sources:

Search  Fishbase  Wikipedia  Catalog of Fishes  Global Biodiversity Information Facility  FishNet2  iNaturalist

Relevant Information:

Ictalurus punctatus has been introduced to a few countries throughout Europe but are native to North America and Mexico and are mainy used as a sport fish in the U.S. where it is one of the species used in the  "pay as you fish" ponds. To tell the difference between the "Catfishes" and the "Bullheads" in the family Ictularidae is quite simple, the Catfishes have a forked tail, as in the Channel Catfish, and the Bullhead catfish have a truncate (straightish) caudal fin. Aquarium Care: Best to be kept on its own, or in a very large tank with other large catfish that can take care of themselves. Housing with large Cichlids is another possibility. Diet: Inhabits rivers and streams and prefers clean, well oxygenated water. Feeds primarily on small fish, crustaceans, clams and snails. In the aquarium/pond they will eat most food with a preference for live/frozen food and also worms such as earth worms and white worm. Will also take catfish tablets and trout pellets.

Common Name:

Channel catfish

Synonyms:

Silurus punctatus

Family:

Ictaluridae

Distribution:

North America: Central drainages of the United States to southern Canada and northern Mexico.

Size:

70.0cm. (27ins)

Temp:

10-32°C (47-91°F)

p.H.

6.5-7.2.

Reference:

Burgess, W.E. 1989 An atlas of freshwater and marine catfishes. A preliminary survey of the Siluriformes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey (USA). 784 p.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2002. FishBase.World Wide Web electronic publication.
www.fishbase.org, 18 August 2002.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.
ScotCat Factsheet
no. 62 : August 2001.
Sterba, Günther
; Sterba's Freshwater Fishes of the World 1.



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Family: Ictaluridae  Back to Ident-A-Cat  Click on Thumbnails

Click for full image Ictalurus punctatus
Juvenile
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Albino
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Albino
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Albino & Black
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Line Drawing
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Albino
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Albino
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Stamp
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Juvenile
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Dorsal view
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Dorsal view
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Juvenile
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Juvenile-From the Strong River Mississippi
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