CHANNEL CATFISH CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES BY

BY
Leonard Lovshin
Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures
Auburn University, AL 36849
CHANNEL CATFISH CULTURE
IN THE
UNITED STATES

Channel Catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus )

Native Range of Channel Catfish in the United States

Food Habits

Preferred Habitat
Rivers
Reservoirs and lakes

MaximumWeight
The world angling record is
26.4 kg caught in Santee
Cooper reservoir, South
Carolina

Reproductive Live History
1. Sexual maturity is reached in 2 to 3 years in the
southeastern U. S.
2. Spawning takes place in a cavity formed by rocks, logs or a
hole in a lake or river bank.
3. Preferred spawning water temperatures: 21-29 C, with

optimal temperature 24 to 26 C.

Sexual behavior
1. Males defend a territory/cavity.
2. Female enters the cavity and
spawns.
3. Males incubate eggs and defend
fry.
4. Males can spawn with more than
one female a season.
Spawning cavity

Catfish are grown in 4 to 10 ha earthen ponds with flat bottoms.

Filtered surface
water or rainfall
Well water
Catfish ponds are filled with either:

Spawning in captivity:
1. Stock adults 3 to 8 years old

2. Stock 1 male to 2 females
3. Stock 800 kg of brooders/ha
female
male

Spawning Containers
float
Ammo cans

Milk cans
Wooden box
Boxes in spawning pond

Spawning occurs during May and June in
the Southeastern U. S. Spawning cans are
checked every 2 to 3 days for spawns.

Hatching Shed
Eggs are transported to a hatching shed.

Eggs are placed in 5-mm square
wire mesh baskets suspended in a
paddlewheel incubator.

Eggs hatch in 5 to 6 days at water
temperatures of 24 to 26 °C.

Fry are fed powdered feed.
Screen bottom boxes Fiberglass trough
Fry are placed in screen boxes or troughs for 7
to 14 days before stocking in ponds.