Sexing channel catfish - can it be done?

[Viktor Jarikov]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... st-7414828

Anyone cares to agree or disagree with "Blackbullhead" post #7

[Viktor Jarikov]

I take it possible to have a relatively good guess at a channel catfish gender. But I wonder why this is not reflected in the Cat-eLog.

[Jools]

I take it possible to have a relatively good guess at a channel catfish gender. But I wonder why this is not reflected in the Cat-eLog.

Pretty much I think because no one has written it down in a data submission - it's not a commonly kept species in aquaria.

Jools

[Viktor Jarikov]

... - it's not a commonly kept species in aquaria...

(Un)fortunately not in my circles... but regardless of that...

So if Blackbullhead and Yellowcat agreed, can their (how ever reworked) description be added?

Blackbullhead: "Generally the easiest way to sex a channel catfish is by the head. Mature males have a broad, muscular, kind of spade-shaped head, while the female's head is smaller and more rounded. Also, between the pelvic fins, the female has two openings. The male has just one (the anus) and a small fleshy flap that sticks out a bit. All of this gets lots easier as the fish get larger. If you don't know the sex of the monster, best bet would just be to start with a handful of juveniles..."

Yellowcat: "With smaller specimens, almost impossible to tell the difference, in larger fish say 10 pounds and larger the difference is distinct, as stated above. Viewed from above, the males will have a bigger wider head and smaller girth whereas a female will have a smaller head and wider, thicker girth given two fish of the same length. As some say, 'big head-small shoulders' a male, 'small head-big shoulders' a female. Generally true for many species of catfish…."

[Jools]

Yes, I will work that in.

Cheers,

Jools

[Viktor Jarikov]

Many thank yous, Jools. Both guys are ok with this. Blackbullhead has further added per the OP MFK thread with a link to a 1976 paper:

"Yeah, that's totally cool. Channels are extensively used in aquaculture, so there are some good agricultural resources with pictures comparing the vents...I'll have to see if I can dig any up.
Here's an abstract that describes the general idea:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1 ... ode=utaf20 "