Live-bearing fish like guppies, mollies and platys are common in the community fish tank and readily reproduce in captivity. Where Do Catfish Live? Catfish are an extremely diverse group of ray-finned fish that get their nickname from their feline-looking whiskers, which are actually barbels that act as a defense mechanism (unlike other fish that have scales to defend them). Other names for channel catfish are spotted cat, blue cat, fiddler, lady cat, chucklehead cat, and willow cat. The lifespans of common aquarium fish species span a broad gamut, as you can see. Catfish have one of the greatest ranges in size within a single order of bony fish. is Greek for “fish cat” and . They live for at least 30 years. These fish live a … Aquarium & stand. I would guess around 30-40. Flathead catfish are typically pale yellow (hence the name "yellow cat") to light brown on the back and sides, and highly mottled with black and/or brown. Ictalurus . In larger rivers, channel catfish live around wing dams and other structures like bridge abutments and barge mooring areas that … Live-bearing fish like guppies, mollies and platys are common in the community fish tank and readily reproduce in captivity. long do catfish live in saltwater Asked in Catfish Are catfish salt water fish? I dont know, ask Google or Your Mother or Ask Jeeves or Yahoo or any other search engine but not ME! It is one of the hardiest and most enduring of all catfishes. In my experience, it’s always 1 hour or less. As a general rule they are not algae eaters. The Mekong giant catfish is the largest species of catfish. Here are typical lifespans of some well-known fish species, from the Adolfo cory to the zebra danio. The state record, caught on a rod and reel, was just over 5 pounds. hoW big do They geT? How Long Do Channel Catfish Live? Therefore, to swim for some distance without scrambling any objects with its cupule the catfish has to use its fins rather actively. They are called catfish because their barbels resemble the whiskers of a cat. Answer. Most freshwater aquarists have added them to a tank at one time or another. In summer, channel catfish can be found in holes of streams and rivers as well as mid-depth runs. Flathead catfish reach a length of 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 m) and their weight can exceed 100 pounds (45 kg). Among catfish, you can find really huge fish - more than 300 kg and several meters in length. Silver dollars  and pacus also live 10 years or more, and the ever-popular convict cichlid can live 20 years. Though the most common catfish, channel, blue and flathead catfish have varied preferences in their natural diets, they are all opportunistic feeders. Larger catfish require at least a 30-gallon tank. They can grow up to 1 foot long Many catfish prefer living in groups of three or more Big catfish need to live with similar-sized tank-mates; they may eat smaller ones Your catfish’s new home. They might eat small amounts, but what they will do is help control its growth by cleaning scraps of food from the substrate. Some catfish have been known to live 15-18 hours out of the water and some won’t make it even a few hours. Catfish is considered to be the largest freshwater predator. However, many grow much larger than this, with the record weighing 58 pounds and measuring 52 inches. In the wild these are the main source of food for that catfish. Catfish grow continually; the larger the fish, the older it usually is. Why are they called channel catfish? In my experience, it’s always 1 hour or less. On average, channel catfish weigh between 2-7 pounds and measure 12 to 24 inches long. It is the relatively small species of catfish, whose homeland are warm tropical waters and the cold waters of mountain streams, able to live in captivity as aquarium fish. Do Cory Catfish Eat Algae? Almost 3,000 species of catfish have been catalogued throughout the world, but it is thought that as many as 4,500 exist. Many catfish have a maximum length of under 12 cm. These catfish usually are purchased to perform some sort of function in terms of fish tank maintenance. Channel catfish often coexist in the same waterways with its close relative, the blue catfish, which is somewhat less common, but tends to grow much larger (with several specimens confirmed to weigh above 100 lb).