Channel catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
- Tank length
- 400 cmabout 13 ft (157 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 12–21 °C54–70 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Adult size
- 50 cm20 in
- Lifespan
- 15–25 yrs
A coldwater food fish sold as small juveniles that outgrows nearly every home aquarium and eats fish it can catch.A coldwater food fish sold as small juveniles that outgrows nearly every home aquarium and eats fish it can catch.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- African butterfly cichlid
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- African clawed frog
Channel catfish may eat African clawed frogChannel catfish may eat African clawed frog
- Agassiz's cory
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Amano shrimpChannel catfish may eat Amano shrimpChannel catfish may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Channel catfish may eat American flagfishChannel catfish may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Arfak rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Assassin snailChannel catfish may eat Assassin snailChannel catfish may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Bandit cory
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 12–21 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–20 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Origin | Central and eastern North America | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 15–25 | curated-v0 (needs expert review); agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Months to adult size | 36 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 400 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |