Are fresh water catfish poisonous?

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noahmz1

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 9, 2007
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santa ana
Ok are the spines of catfish poisonous? I dropped my tsn on the floor once when transfering it to a bigger tank. When I tried to pick it up when it was flopping around violently I was stuck by one of its spines from its pectoral fin. And to tell you the truth it stung for about a half hour! No lie. I went on line to do research to make sure my heart wasn't gonna stop.

I found several articles about catfish spines being poisonous. But couldn't find an article that narrowed it down to a tsn or rtc. So does anybody know if indeed they have some extent of poison in their spines? All I know is my tsn with out a doubt stung when I was pricked by its spines.
 
I hope not....I got "stabbed" by my rtc in my hand......nothing happened to me.
 
Most catfish are venomous to some degree, with exceptions like plecos, electric cats and doradids. Some, like the Asian stinging cat (H. fossilis) and the Marine cat (P. lineatus) can be dangerous, even potentially lethal to humans.
 
Its the slimecoat that affects you. Most just hurt but a few like madtoms and sea catfish hurt like hell
 
When I was a kid about 12 years old, I caught a catfish from a local pond. It was an ordinary looking black catfish about 12". While taking it off the hook, somehow it dorsal finned me in the palm of my hand. My hand swelled up and there was a little hole in my skin there for years that finally closed up.
 
balton777;3592416; said:
When I was a kid about 12 years old, I caught a catfish from a local pond. It was an ordinary looking black catfish about 12". While taking it off the hook, somehow it dorsal finned me in the palm of my hand. My hand swelled up and there was a little hole in my skin there for years that finally closed up.
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Woe, that's nuts man. Ya like I said when I got stuck by my tsn it stung for a while. Similar to a fire ant sting. Its funny how when I look up catfish info the information never says anything about poisonous spines? Why not.
 
the stinging is from the the ripping action of the bacteria covered barbs on your flesh
 
the bac on the catfish is attacking and getting into your body... it will hurt...

~ocean
 
Most catfish aren't poisonous. Some catfish species have the sharp spikes to cut their opponents. What causes the pain is the stuff in their slime coat. Normally not lethal, but man does it make a small cut hurt like bad.

Bullheads are the worse IME. Nasty cutting action with mucho pain if you aren't careful. Holding them correctly makes a world of difference. I enjoyed catching them on my Grandparents' farm as a kid.
 
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