A List of the Coolest and Most Common Catfish Types
Catfish remain one of the most popular species of fish on the planet. Smaller tropical fish are always a favorite among aquarists. Those that enjoy the sport enjoy going after trophy catfish to test their skill, and to make the headlines. Anglers make a good amount of money off an exceptional harvest as well. Everyone seems to love these fish, whether it is their beautiful appearance or their delicious taste.
The catfish family has thousands of species, each with their own unique characteristics and reasons for being loved or giving people a combination of fear and fascination.
Ripsaw Catfish
The Ripsaw catfish calls the waters of the Amazon home and remains a danger to fishermen due to its thorny sides, which is where it gets its name. Along with its sides are thorns that will slice through the skin, just like a saw. Despite there somewhat terrifying appearance, the ripsaw catfish is rarely aggressive. It is known for moving slower than other fish, and those thorny sides help it protect itself against predators that want to take advantage of it’s slower than average pace. They can grow to almost thirty pounds.
The Electric catfish is known for its shocking characteristics. When it feels threatened, which is often the case if it is captured, the Electric catfish can produce a shock that can both stun and harm fishermen. Some of these species can create a shock that is over three hundred volts. These fish have an extra organ that gives them this ability. Those that enjoy fishing in Africa, the home of the Electric catfish, are well aware of these fish and their dangers.
There remains a great debate as to whether the electric eel is really an eel or an electric catfish. Many experts claim that it belongs to the eel family, but those that believe otherwise are quick to point out the catfish characteristics that the electric eel has.
Flathead Catfish
Flathead catfish are popular freshwater catfish found in North America. These catfish are not known for any characteristics that will make you raise your eyebrows. Instead, they are known for being found in such large abundance on the continent of North America. Most anglers are prepared to enjoy a nice sized harvest of these fish every year. They remain a staple for many households in Southern states and provide exceptional nutritional benefits.
Blue Catfish
Blue catfish are also found in North America and is known as one of the largest fish found in this region. Blue catfish can grow to slightly over 150 pounds, which keeps anglers fighting after them so that they can bring home a trophy fish. Because these catfish are known for enjoying frequent meals, they are easier to catch than other species. This, combined with their delicious flavor, makes them a favorite for anglers.
Walking catfish are able to survive on dry land for brief periods of time. When they are out of the water, they do not flop as other fish do. Instead, they move in a diagonal manner that puts more weight on the back half of the body, which makes it appear as though they are walking. This is where this cool catfish gets its name from. These fish are not commonly eaten and are often considered a nuisance because they are an invasive species in some southern parts of North America.
The Channel catfish also referred to as the Channel cat, is the most numerous catfish species in North America. Some fishermen despise this fish because they do not care for the taste, but most have found a recipe that makes a mouthwatering fillet of Channel catfish. These fish are also known to grow to a decent size, always make a great harvest, and can easily be caught. Fishermen that want to catch a large quantity of fish can rest assured that they will when they go after a Channel cat.
These fish are known for being bottom feeders, and for eating a wide variety of bait that is dangled in front of them.
Corydoras catfish are a popular freshwater fish for aquariums. They are known for not growing too large, being beautiful and adding a certain amount of appeal to aquariums. There are currently over 160 species of Corydoras catfish, most of which are named after their unique appearance. Some of the most popular species of Corydoras catfish include:
- Panda corydoras
- Bronze corydoras
- Pygmy corydoras
- Three stripe corydoras
- Spotted corydoras
- Elegant corydoras
- Two saddle corydoras
- Blue corydoras
As you can see, most of these fish are named after their appearance. Corydoras catfish are often enjoyed because of their appearance as they swim peacefully throughout an aquarium. They also make exceptional tank mates because of their peaceful nature.
The Bullhead catfish remains well known for its superior ability to survive in waters that other fish cannot. It can be found in murky waters where visibility is low, and oxygen is just as low. These fish do not mind, though. This is another catfish that is found in North America and remains popular among anglers. They are not known for growing drastically large in size, but that just makes them easier to catch for fishermen that want to bring home a large quantity of fish.
The Wels catfish can be found in the seas located in eastern Europe, such as the Baltic Sea. These fish are primarily known for their enormous size as some can grow over five feet long, which means that they could easily pose a threat to humans. This species of catfish is considered an invasive species in some areas, which limits people from introducing the Wels catfish into the environment.
Raphael catfish are a popular tropical fish found in South America. They are imported from this area so that aquarists across the world can enjoy their beautiful appearance. Raphael catfish grow slightly larger than Corydoras at almost eight inches long, but they do not grow large enough that one would need a massive aquarium to enjoy them. As with other tropical catfish, species of Raphael catfish are often named after their appearance. For example, the striped Raphael catfish spotted Raphael catfish, etc.
Amur Catfish
The Amur catfish is a common catfish found in the Japan area. Because of this, it has been referred to as the Japanese catfish by many, but it is also found in Eastern Asia. The Amur catfish enjoys rivers with a slow current and is often found in irrigation canals because they provide the perfect environment for this fish to thrive. These fish are eaten and often purchased to inhabit outdoor ponds because of their slender appearance, but they are not commonly kept as pets.
Chiapas Catfish
The Chiapas catfish was recently discovered in 2005. Discovering a new catfish always makes headlines, especially when it is as awesome as the Chiapas catfish. Upon further research, scientists discovered that this catfish did not belong to any other family of catfish currently known, placing it in a family that it’s all its own. This baffled scientists as it was discovered in a river that is common for fishing, and it can grow to a decent size, making it surprising that this fish was not previously discovered. It does have several of the characteristics that catfish are known for, such as barbels, but no one knows where this fish came from. There are current theories that claim this fish has African roots, but no one can verify that yet.
The Ghost catfish is also commonly called the glass catfish because of its transparent appearance. The phantom catfish is native to the continent of Asia but is found in aquariums all over the world because of its unique appearance. Fish owners can see the skeleton of the fish through its transparent skin, making it fascinating to watch as it peacefully swims through the water. Its small size is another reason the ghost catfish remains popular. At under a foot in length, it will be comfortable in many smaller aquariums.
The Mekong giant catfish is one of the most well-known catfish due to its monstrous size. This catfish has been featured on popular television shows that are centered on the topic of large fish, such as River Monsters. The Mekong catfish is not just one of the largest species of catfish, it is one of the largest fish in the world. Some of these catfish are known to grow to over ten feet in length.
It gets its name from its home in the Mekong basin of Asia. What most people do not know about this fish is that it is quickly becoming endangered as it loses more and more of its habitat every year. This fish is also sought after by fishermen that would like to catch a trophy fish of their own.
There are over thirty catfish families, and each of those families has plenty of species. Overall, there are thousands of catfish that are available for dining and enjoying. This brief list names a few of the coolest and most common catfish, but our blogs list plenty more for you to learn about.
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