Cat-eLog Right Ictaluridae Right Ictalurus  |  | 

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Ictalurus punctatus  (Rafinesque, 1818)
Common Names Channel Catfish
Getuepfelter Gabelwels (Germany), Plettet Dværgmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Ohio River, U.S.A.
Synonym(s) Silurus punctatus
Pronunciation ick tal oo russ - punk TAT uss
Etymology Ictalurus: From the Greek ichthys, meaning fish, and ailouros, meaning cat; literally "fish cat" (=catfish). punctatus meaning spotted alluding to the smattering of back and lower body black spots on primarily younger fish.
Articles
Article Link - CotM Right 1998 Right January
Down Species Information
Size 1320mm or 52" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification The albino variety is more often encountered for sale than the normal colouration. Often confused with Ictalurus furcatus In juveniles the blue generally has a darker body with a whitish belly while the channel is silvery with few small dark spots. The channel cat averages 27-30 anal fin rays while the blue has 33-35. Ictalurus furcatus has a head that is wedge shaped, consistent with a blue cat's wedge shaped head is a noticeable dorsal hump in front of the dorsal fin, a channel cats head is more rounded or cigar shaped. Barbels on a blue cat are reduced in relation to I. punctatus. Also in comparison to channel cats which have a rounded anal fin the anterior margin of the anal fin is truncate in I .furcatus.
Sexing It is almost impossible to distinguish between sexes with individuals of around 10 pounds or less. 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 (genital papillae) that sticks out a bit. The larger the fish, the easier and more distinct these differences become.
General Remarks For aquaculture these are sometimes kept at a higher temperature for maximum growth, they can also withstand extremes in temperature, but in the home aquarium or pond the temperatures suggested on this page are for long term comfort.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution North America: Central drainages of the United States to southern Canada and northern Mexico. Trade restricted in Germany (Anl.3 BArtSchV).
North American Atlantic Drainages, Great Lakes (click on these areas to find other species found there)
North American Atlantic Drainages, Saint Lawrence (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Gulf Coast Drainages, Mississippi (click on these areas to find other species found there)

Log in to view data on a map.
IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2012.
pH 6.0 - 8.0
Temperature 12.0-21.0°C or 53.6-69.8°F (Show species within this range)
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding All prepared foods, youngsters can be grown very quickly on bloodworm or more cheaply on commercial fish meal. Will eat constantly, but care should be taken not to pander to this tendency as the strain on filtration becomes immense. Large individuals can be fed weekly. User data.
Furniture An active catfish when young, becoming less active with age. A large swimming area is necessary to get the best from this fish. The water column need not be more than 30cm if dimly light.
Compatibility Peaceful but predatory.
Suggested Tankmates Large central American cichlids fit the bill both in terms of size and water conditions.
Breeding Commercially farmed in large ponds and so breeding is easily accomplished on the correct scale. This scale however does not encompass the home aquarium.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference American Monthly Magazine and Critical Review v. 3 (no. 5) (art. 3) (Sept.), pp 355.
Registered Keepers There are 55 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list.
There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars!
There are 11 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode
Search for I. punctatus
Look up AquaticRepublic.com Look up I. punctatus on AquaticRepublic.com
Look up on Fishbase Look up I. punctatus on Fishbase
Look up on Encyclopedia of Life Look up Ictalurus punctatus on Encyclopedia of Life
Look up on Global Biodiversity Information Facility Look up I. punctatus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Ictalurus punctatus QR code LFS label creator
Last Update 2020 Oct 25 01:05 (species record created: 2001 Apr 19 00:00)