Catfish are one of the most popular freshwater fish we know today. Catfish are delicious and have remarkable commercial value. Catfish can be found in many parts of the world, such as North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Can Catfish Live With Goldfish and Guppies?
In their natural habitat, catfish feed on smaller aquatic animals, and seaweed. Therefore considering the small size of the goldfish and guppies, they are most likely going to be prey for the catfish is kept together in a pond.
Goldfish and guppies are ornamental fish known for their beauty; they are a great addition to aquariums setup for display and aesthetics. Goldfish and guppies belong to different fish species but are about the same size. They swim fast but not fast enough for a medium sized catfish in search of prey.
Goldfish and guppies are also freshwater fish species. Sharing this similarity with the catfish is not an indication that they will be safe in the same pool with the bigger catfish. However, some farmers who own commercial ponds can introduce the smaller fish to increase the protein intake of catfish they are raising for sale.
An alternative to raising catfish and goldfish together
If it is utterly necessary to raise catfish and goldfish in the same pond, the farmer will need to select a species of the catfish that do not grow very big. This way, the catfish and goldfish can grow and survive together. However, there is a chance that catfish can prey on the smaller goldfish or guppies when they spawn.
Generally, fish that prey on other fish only consider the smaller fish as potential food. There are hardly instances when a large fish will attempt to consume another fish of about the same size. From this perspective, it is possible to have the catfish and goldfish or guppies in the same tank.
Catfish like murky waters
Another reason catfish may be an unsuitable fish species to live with goldfish or guppies in a pond is the habitat catfish like. Some catfish prefer murky waters to hide, hunt, and thrive. The smaller ornamental fish such as goldfish and guppies may find it difficult to survive in murky water. The food for this fish may not be available in such conditions; consequently, the goldfish and guppies face a threat of starvation.
Invasive tendencies of catfish
Catfish are generally classified as invasive fish species. They multiply very quickly and can overtake the population of other fish in a pond. If the fish species sharing a pond with catfish are smaller in size, they potentially become food for the bigger catfish.
The invasive nature of catfish will make it difficult to raise them in the same pond with goldfish and guppies. Even if there is no predatory activity that can deplete the population of goldfish, the catfish can multiply too quickly and deplete food sources in the pond, leaving too little for the goldfish or guppies to survive.
To avoid the issues identified regarding raising catfish, goldfish, and guppies in the same pond, it is best to keep them separately in different ponds.
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