Cool Channel Cat Info

[Dreamsofpeace54]

Searching the internet i stumbled upon this.

Basic research and info on channel cats, spawning, sexual differences.

thought you guys might like it.

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/ncr444.pdf

 

[warmouth]

Searching the internet i stumbled upon this.

Basic research and info on channel cats, spawning, sexual differences.

thought you guys might like it.

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/ncr444.pdf

Wow thats very informative, Channel cats are cool, just too big for any tank I own.

 

[Dreamsofpeace54]

this is true, mostly too big for just about anyones tank or even pond. These are very active catfish and need the space.

 

[Moontanman]

Channel catfish are fine in an aquarium, their size is quite plastic and just because they do not reach the maximum size is no indication of lack of care. A great many people keep channel cats for many years both in aquariums and yard ponds.

Like most fish maximum size is not something they have to attain to be healthy. A channel cat 18" long is what I would maximum "aquarium" size, expecting them to get much bigger in captivity is unreasonable. Most will stay well below that size even if their care is excellent.

They are not particularly active fish either, compared to many schooling aquarium fish channel cats are quite sedentary. A handful of channel cats could live quite well for their entire life in a 125 if it was well taken care of.

Even in the wild many areas will never see channels cats above 18 to 24 inches, this constant drive to grow fish out to some mandatory maximum size is counter productive to both fish keeping and the fish themselves.

A fish should not be Forced to some ideal maximum size, it makes the fish fat and destroys their health, it's much better to feed fish much less than they can eat and keep them in clean well aerated water. Most of the big fish are really too big to be active enough in captivity to do much more than just get fat.

Assuming a fish needs to attain it's maximum recored size ignores the fact that these maximum sized fish are often freaks that arise under unusual circumstances and are seldom encountered even in the wild much less in captivity. The old adage that fish only grow to the size of the aquarium is just as misleading as a fish has to reach it's maximum recorded size to have been well taken care of.

Both ideas are extremes that ignore the reality of how fish grow and why they grow.

 

[warmouth]

Channel catfish are fine in an aquarium, their size is quite plastic and just because they do not reach the maximum size is no indication of lack of care. A great many people keep channel cats for many years both in aquariums and yard ponds.

Like most fish maximum size is not something they have to attain to be healthy. A channel cat 18" long is what I would maximum "aquarium" size, expecting them to get much bigger in captivity is unreasonable. Most will stay well below that size even if their care is excellent.

They are not particularly active fish either, compared to many schooling aquarium fish channel cats are quite sedentary. A handful of channel cats could live quite well for their entire life in a 125 if it was well taken care of.

Even in the wild many areas will never see channels cats above 18 to 24 inches, this constant drive to grow fish out to some mandatory maximum size is counter productive to both fish keeping and the fish themselves.

A fish should not be Forced to some ideal maximum size, it makes the fish fat and destroys their health, it's much better to feed fish much less than they can eat and keep them in clean well aerated water. Most of the big fish are really too big to be active enough in captivity to do much more than just get fat.

Assuming a fish needs to attain it's maximum recored size ignores the fact that these maximum sized fish are often freaks that arise under unusual circumstances and are seldom encountered even in the wild much less in captivity. The old adage that fish only grow to the size of the aquarium is just as misleading as a fish has to reach it's maximum recorded size to have been well taken care of.

Both ideas are extremes that ignore the reality of how fish grow and why they grow.

Although I respect your opinion I will have to disagree on the facts......Channel cats here in Mo. regularly attain 20-34 inches (its our state fish). I believe a channel kept in a 125g that never grows above 16-18 inches is stunted and not living a healthy life. Petersons field guide of freshwater fishes states the Channel cat maxes out at 50 inches and lives in rivers and lakes.......and avoids streams. The channels Ive seen at the Bass pro aquarium were active (much like the Blue catfish) whereas the Flatheads were very sedentary. Sorry just the facts bro.

 

[Moontanman]

You can say what you will but the facts are as follows, a 50" channel cat is exceptional to say the least. Channel cats that are sold in pet shops are not the same genetically as the ones found in the wild, then you have geographical differences.

Channel cats grown in captivity have been breed to grow fast and be harvested small, they have been bred to be small and live in ponds not rivers so there is really no comparison to wild fish and captive bred fish. There is a real genetic difference and most pet shop fish are really a hybrid of channel and blue cats to start with.

I'll say it again, assuming a captive raised fish should attain some exceptional wild caught record is simply wrong. Channel catfish are active in the day time more than most North American catfish but have you ever seen a flat head at night? Very active fish once the lights go out. Channel cats spend lots of time sedentary and if well fed will not do much more than it takes to get the food.

Channel cats make good aquarium fish for those with larger tanks, a 55 is little bit cramped but a catfish is well able to adapt to this with no problems. Give him a 30,000 gallon tank and he will be more active but it's not required to keep channel cats.

I've spent most of my life fishing and keeping fish, really large channel cats are scarce in all but a very few places, usually very special places where the environment favors larger fish. Catfish are very adaptable and will adapt quite easily to tank life. They do not need to get to be 50" long to be healthy and well kept.

 

[warmouth]

You can say what you will but the facts are as follows, a 50" channel cat is exceptional to say the least. Channel cats that are sold in pet shops are not the same genetically as the ones found in the wild, then you have geographical differences.

Channel cats grown in captivity have been breed to grow fast and be harvested small, they have been bred to be small and live in ponds not rivers so there is really no comparison to wild fish and captive bred fish. There is a real genetic difference and most pet shop fish are really a hybrid of channel and blue cats to start with.

I'll say it again, assuming a captive raised fish should attain some exceptional wild caught record is simply wrong. Channel catfish are active in the day time more than most North American catfish but have you ever seen a flat head at night? Very active fish once the lights go out. Channel cats spend lots of time sedentary and if well fed will not do much more than it takes to get the food.

Channel cats make good aquarium fish for those with larger tanks, a 55 is little bit cramped but a catfish is well able to adapt to this with no problems. Give him a 30,000 gallon tank and he will be more active but it's not required to keep channel cats.

I've spent most of my life fishing and keeping fish, really large channel cats are scarce in all but a very few places, usually very special places where the environment favors larger fish. Catfish are very adaptable and will adapt quite easily to tank life. They do not need to get to be 50" long to be healthy and well kept.

I agree about channel cats making good pets for big tanks....but I would say a 250g is minimum for a adult channel. Channels dont need to get 50 inches (like we dont need to get 7ft tall) but they do need to have the space to get a reasonable 24-30 inches long (and thats much bigger than a 125g); as far as being bred for being smaller and the genetic differences I would love to see the scientific evidence or article you got that info from (not the lfs trying to sell you a albino) Ive never read that before and if its proven true would be more than willing to backtrack on my answer.

 

[Dreamsofpeace54]

in your original statement you said "compared to many schooling aquarium fish channel cats are quite sedentary".

Comparing aquarium fish like tetras or barbs to channel catfish is apples to oranges sir. Channel catfish compared to bullhead, blue, white, flathead, or any other catfish species can be considered very active. though they are catfish and can be considered slow when compared to schooling or other fish.

And how can you force a fish to grow to its maximum size? you feed it, it eats. You cannot force food down its gullet and pull on it to stretch it out. A fish is going to grow regardless of food or water quality. It may take longer if one or both of those is not ideal. Eventually the fish will reach it's maximum size. If space is limited the fish will not grow to its full potential. Resulted in a stunted fish. Id call that bad fishkeeping.

 

[ShadowBass]

Eventually the fish will reach it's maximum size.

I'm not sure what you're saying here. Of course a fish will grow to ITS own max size. But if you're saying the fish will definitely reach the max recorded size of that species, that's wrong. Most, even given optimum care and feeding, will not reach record size.
I do understand what you're trying to say though, I think. They should easily reach or exceed average size in a properly maintained aquarium.

But I do disagree with Moontanman that you can expect a Channel cat to only grow to 18-24 inches given the right care and condition. Channel cats, like many other catfish, will quickly grow to a certain size and then their growth will slow significantly. Given a long time, and proper care you can definitely expect most channel cats to exceed 18 inches. I've known a ton of people with catfish ponds (not aquarists ponds, but actual fishing type ponds), and the fish were put in very small, fed normally and reached over 18 inches. I would say 18 inches is relatively small for a channel catfish. Caught in the wild (not force grown) I've caught MANY a channel cat that was over that size because they had the conditions to reach larger sizes, and conditions in the wild aren't usually as optimum as we can create in an aquarium setting (perfect water quality, constant food, etc.).
COMMON size on fishbase is even listed as 22 inches, max being listed as 51 inches.

I do somewhat disagree with overfeeding (catfish will eat until they nearly explode, so waiting until they're full is overfeeding), but even feeding moderately it will just take them longer to max out if you give them good water parameters and quality food. Making sure not to overfeed does not ensure a smaller mature fish, it simply slows the growth rate and makes for a leaner fish, which will hopefully curtail health problems normally related to overfeeding.

Regarding channel cats being active fish - compared to what? They are fairly inactive during the day, laying on the bottom and barely moving. They can be pretty active at night when hunting, but they don't necessarily feel the need if they are well fed. Viewing channel cats in a very large aquarium, you will probably notice they often hover in one spot, even given sufficient room to swim. I still wouldn't personally want to keep them in a tank they can't comfortable swim around in though, and such a tank would have to be fairly large.

Aquiring an aquarium that will house them to their commonly attained size (22-24 inches, and a 125g is too small for a fish of that size to live comfortably, IMO, even given good water quality) and planning to upgrade or transfer to a pond if they grow further would be optimum.

 

[mqktandy]

MY channel at 2 yrs old 26" i bought him at 6" he grew fast. even procecting the feeder fish he grew up with from the TSN. lol. he did grow to 20" in a 100gal. 'yes i know its bad but I had 30gal of scubbies and had perfect conditions. he basicly just sat in his cave and ate after 8". lol hr still doess.