Dive into the Fascinating World of Catfish: 9 Facts That Will Amaze You!

Catfish are found in freshwater and saltwater across the globe, except in Antarctica. With over 3000 species in the order Siluriformes, the one characteristic that they share is their barbels, the cat-like whiskers that protrude from the sides of their faces. These barbels are sensory organs that allow catfish to find prey in the murky waters where they dwell. They are opportunistic bottom-feeding omnivores that will eat practically anything, from algae to decaying plant matter and animal flesh. Ready to learn more about these whiskered masters of the deep? Keep reading to discover nine catfish facts that will amaze you.

1. Catfish Can Thrive in Really Cold and Really Hot Water

One of the reasons catfish can be found all over the world is that they can adapt to a wide variety of habitats. Catfish can be found in areas where the temperature is 95 degrees, but they can also survive at temperatures just above freezing. Typically when the water temperatures gets below 65°F, catfish will slow down, conserve energy, and may temporarily cease feeding, but they have been known to be active year-round even in cold temperatures.

2. Asian Catfish Walk From Pool to Pool

“I’m outta here!” If an Asian catfish gets fed up with its lake or pond, it can up and leave! Walking catfish have pectoral fins that they use to scoot across the land in an odd walk like a snake. They don’t have to hold their breath to do it either; they have a unique set of gills that can breathe air too. Walking catfish are not just found in Asia but have been introduced to areas like Florida as well.

3. Catfish Have a Built-In Amplifier

Catfish have amazing hearing. They have a Weberian apparatus, which serves as an amplifier for underwater sounds. Four bones link the inner ear to the swim bladder. When sound waves bounce off the bladder, the signal is sent to the ear, and the sound is amplified.

4. 3,000 Channel Catfish Were Released at an Air Force Base in Florida

In an effort to balance the ecosystem and to provide fishing opportunities to the general public, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services partnered with the MacDill Air Force Base to raise and release 3,000 channel catfish into Lewis Lake on the base. The fish help keep the aquatic vegetation from becoming overgrown, while the fish provide recreational and sustenance opportunities to local residents.

5. The Largest Catfish Ever Caught was a Mekong Giant Catfish that was 646 Pounds!

The Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) is the largest catfish species. It can be found in the Mekong River in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The largest one ever caught weighed 646 pounds! That’s about the size of a dolphin. Caught in Thailand in 2005, the specimen was female and nearly nine feet long.

6. The Asian Stone Mini Catfish is Only an Inch Long!

The Asian stone mini catfish (Hara jerdoni) is a popular fish for freshwater aquariums. These little fish have all the same details as a larger catfish, including tiny barbels. Their coloration is yellowish-gold with a mottled brown pattern. They are peaceful little fish that are more active at night, but even then, will often stay in the same spot. The Asian stone mini catfish is found in rivers in India and Bangladesh.

7. This Catfish has 100,000 Taste Buds!

Catfish have thousands of taste buds located all over their bodies which help them sense where food is. Most of the taste buds are on their whiskers or barbels and can sense food up to 15 feet way. Many catfish are bottom dwellers and often swim in murky water so their sense of taste serves as a tool to find food when they can’t see well.

8. A Rare Piebald Blue Catfish Was Caught in Tennessee

Piebald coloration is the result of a mutation that causes the pigment of animals to be a mix of pigmented and unpigmented coloration. Tennessee fishermen were quite surprised when they saw white on a blue catfish. Piebaldism is similar to albinism, a condition in which animals are lacking any coloration and often appear white with pink eyes. Kevin Markway, an angler in Missouri, is on record for hooking an albino blue catfish. Because a fish that is all white would stand out in the wild and attract predators, it is unusual to see one that makes it to adulthood.

9. The Male Sea Catfish Incubates Fertilized Eggs in Its Mouth!

With a large variety of catfish species, there is also a large variety in how catfish reproduce. The channel catfish, for example, lays its eggs en masse in crevices of rocks or vegetation. After the eggs have been laid, the male catfish takes over guarding the eggs. Once they hatch, the male remains and keeps watch over them for a few weeks. Another catfish, the sea catfish, is a mouthbreeder. It can hold up to 50 eggs in its mouth. Even after the eggs hatch, the little fish remain in their father’s mouth for two weeks or longer.