ExploreFish

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

The Blue Catfish is a big fish with a bluish color. It is known for being a strong swimmer and can grow very large!

Habitat: Rivers and lakes

Appearance

The Blue Catfish is a large fish with a distinctive silvery-blue to slate gray body and a bright white belly. It has smooth, scaleless skin, a slightly humped back, and a deeply forked tail that makes it different from other catfish.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumCHORDATAClassActinopterygiiOrderSILURIFORMESFamilyICTALURIDAEGenusIctalurus

Blue Catfish

Interesting facts

Blue Catfish have over 100,000 taste buds all over their body!

Some people catch them by "noodling," which means using only their bare hands!

These are the largest catfish in North America, growing to incredible sizes!

Unlike most fish, they don't have scales; their skin is super smooth!

Special abilities

Blue Catfish can swim swiftly through strong currents because of its strong, deeply forked tail.

Blue Catfish can make croaking sounds by rubbing bones together that helps them communicate with each other.

Measurements & details

Length: 25-165 cm
Weight: 0.5-68 kg
Lifespan: 9-25 years
Swim Speed: 12 km/h
Max Depth: 20 m
Water Type: Freshwater

Diet & Feeding

They are big eaters, munching on smaller fish, insects, crayfish, and even some plants.

Age differences: Younger catfish mainly eat insects and crustaceans, while adults become more fish-focused.

Primary Foods

small fish
shad
minnows
crayfish
aquatic insects
mussels

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

hunts

American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

Young catfish can be eaten by American alligators.

eats

Gizzard Shad

Dorosoma cepedianum

Blue Catfish hunt and eat Gizzard Shad, an abundant schooling fish.

eats

Red Swamp Crayfish

Procambarus clarkii

Blue Catfish feed on red swamp crayfish found on the river bottom.

eaten by

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Ospreys sometimes prey on smaller, juvenile Blue Catfish near the surface.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Whiskered

Look for animals with cool whiskers, which help them feel their way around and understand their world!

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Ancient Lineage

These fascinating organisms carry echoes of the deep past, with ancestors that have roamed the Earth for an incredible span of time. They are living links to ancient worlds!