Blue Catfish
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
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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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
Ability
Powerful Tail Fin
Blue Catfish can swim swiftly through strong currents because of its strong, deeply forked tail.
Ability
Croaking Communicator
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
- Maximum 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
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Whiskered
Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Piscivorous
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Freshwater
Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Also known as
Ictalurus furcatus
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Blue Catfish?
25-165 cm
How much does Blue Catfish weigh?
0.5-68 kg
How long does Blue Catfish live?
9-25 years
What does Blue Catfish eat?
They are big eaters, munching on smaller fish, insects, crayfish, and even some plants.
How fast can Blue Catfish swim?
12 km/h
Where is Blue Catfish usually found?
Rivers and lakes
How does Blue Catfish hunt?
Foraging
How deep can Blue Catfish go?
20 m
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