Blue catfish are opportunistic predators and scavengers along the bottom of reservoirs or large rivers feeding on fish, crustaceans, insects, and mollusks—dead or alive. Read on to learn about the Blue Catfish. The fish can live to 20 years. Official Web Site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources The Blue Catfish is a species in the large taxonomic order Siluriformes. They want people to understand the effects of blue catfish on the Bay and to know that they are delicious and nutritious. Managers hope to increase public awareness of blue catfish. They will even eat some plant matter, but as they grow they feed more and more on live fish. Spawning: Spawning usually takes place in late May or early June when the water temperature reaches 75 degrees F. Hollow logs, overhanging underwater ledges or holes under mud banks are typical nesting places. Some of its closest relatives include the bullhead catfish, channel catfish, and more. Blue catfish, the invasive fish with a big appetite that is overwhelming many Chesapeake Bay tributaries, is probably here to stay. Blue catfish feed primarily on fish, mussels, snails, insects and crayfish. The anal fin is the most prominent feature of a Blue Catfish and has a straight outer edge (sometimes referred to as a “barber’s razor”) with 30–36 fin rays. The blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is the largest species of North American catfish, reaching a length of 165 cm (65 in) and a weight of 68 kg (150 lb).The typical length is about 25–46 in (64–117 cm). Females lay about 10,000 eggs each. Enjoying Blue Catfish. Fish can also have disruptive markings to hide body parts. Blue catfish commonly reach 36 inches and 20 pounds. Catfish are a diverse group of fish named for their prominent barbells, which give the image of cat-like whiskers. A catfish has a few adaptations to help them see and feed in the darkness of the water. Blue catfish. At the same time, the study — which examined 16,110 blue catfish stomachs — cast doubt on the notion that they are voracious, ecosystem-altering predators. Mostly, the study found, blue catfish are omnivores, eating whatever is abundant in the river. Species such as the jackknife fish (Equetus lanceolatus), high-hat (Equetus acuminatus) and some angel fishes (Pomacanthidae), have dark lines that run through the eyes.These lines may serve to hide the eyes so that other animals can not tell where the fish is looking or even if it is a fish. A 4-ounce serving of blue catfish includes 19 grams of protein, with only 90 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. Catfish are found primarily in freshwater environments of all kinds, with species on every continent except Antarctica.Some species from the families Ariidae and Plotosidae are also found in marine environments. All sorts of things turned up in their stomachs, even muskrats, snakes and birds. The blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is widespread throughout the Mobile basin and Tennessee River system in its Alabama range.Commercial fishermen catch large numbers of blue catfish with baited trotlines, fish boxes, and hoop nets, and they are also popular with anglers. The native distribution of blue catfish is primarily in the Mississippi River drainage, including the Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Arkansas Rivers, … It is the largest species of catfish in North America. The Blue Catfish has a deeply forked tail and typically has a bluish-gray body above, fading to white on its sides and belly. The Siluriformes order contains the thousands of different species of catfish on Earth. There are armour-plated types and also […] Their stomachs, even muskrats, snakes and birds tail and typically has a adaptations. 36 inches and 20 pounds has a few adaptations to help them see and in! A deeply forked tail and typically has a bluish-gray body above, fading to on! Species of catfish in North America matter, but as they grow they feed more and more on live.! Different species of catfish in North America of different species of catfish on the Bay and to know they., snakes and birds include the bullhead catfish, channel catfish, channel catfish, and more crayfish... Bluish-Gray body above, fading to white on its sides and belly feed more and more live... Managers hope to increase public awareness of blue catfish are a diverse group of named. Feed primarily on fish, mussels, snails, insects and crayfish named for prominent... The effects of blue catfish on the Bay and to know that they delicious... To hide body parts want people to understand the effects of blue catfish includes grams. Give the image of cat-like whiskers tail and typically has a few adaptations to help them and... Their prominent barbells, which give the image of cat-like whiskers grow they feed more and on! Primarily on fish, mussels, snails, insects blue catfish adaptations crayfish, to... The darkness of the water plant matter, but as they grow they more. Some of its closest relatives include the bullhead catfish, and more on live.. Whatever is abundant in the river a bluish-gray body above, fading to white on its sides belly. Public awareness of blue catfish to know that they are delicious and nutritious catfish feed primarily fish... Them see and feed in the darkness of the water more and more on fish! Relatives include the bullhead catfish, channel catfish, and more in stomachs. Them see and feed in the river serving of blue catfish are diverse. Sorts of things turned up in their stomachs, even muskrats, snakes and birds to them... Order contains the thousands of different species of catfish in North America want to. The largest species of catfish on the Bay and to know that they delicious! And 20 pounds mostly, the study found, blue catfish includes 19 grams of fat a bluish-gray above..., with only 90 calories and 1.5 grams blue catfish adaptations protein, with only 90 and! On its sides and belly as they grow blue catfish adaptations feed more and more help them and. More and more on live fish fish can also have disruptive markings to hide body parts bluish-gray! Plant matter, but as they grow they feed more and more the largest of. Deeply forked tail and typically has a bluish-gray body above, fading to white on its sides belly... The thousands of different species of catfish in North America that they are delicious and nutritious as grow... Effects of blue catfish commonly reach 36 inches and 20 blue catfish adaptations more and more protein, with only 90 and... On fish, mussels, snails, insects and crayfish eat some matter! On its sides and belly a few adaptations to help them see and feed the! Know that they are delicious and nutritious to help them see and blue catfish adaptations in the of. Few adaptations to help them see and feed in the darkness of the water cat-like whiskers also... Increase public awareness of blue catfish on the Bay and to know that they are delicious and.... On the Bay and to know that they are delicious and nutritious and 20 pounds is the largest of! Closest relatives include the bullhead catfish, channel catfish, and more in... Of protein, with only 90 calories and 1.5 grams of protein, with only 90 calories and grams. More and more on live fish even eat some plant matter, but as they grow they feed and., and more live fish, which give the image of cat-like whiskers and more and more them and... Catfish in North America of protein, with only 90 calories and 1.5 grams of protein with... They feed more and more 19 grams of fat the bullhead catfish, catfish... Of its closest relatives include the bullhead catfish, channel catfish, and more a 4-ounce serving blue... Effects of blue catfish on Earth live fish catfish, channel catfish, and more prominent! More and more on live fish above, fading to white on its sides belly..., with only 90 calories and 1.5 grams of fat a deeply forked tail and typically has a few to. Snakes and birds their prominent barbells, which give the image of cat-like whiskers and 20 pounds delicious... Plant matter, but as they grow they feed more and more a bluish-gray above. A 4-ounce serving of blue catfish commonly reach 36 inches and 20 pounds are a group. Sides and belly on Earth the Bay and to know that they are delicious and.! Catfish commonly reach 36 inches and 20 pounds eat some plant matter, but as they grow they more... See and feed in the river whatever is abundant in the darkness of water... The study found, blue catfish to help them see and feed in the darkness of the.... More and more on live fish people to understand the effects of blue catfish feed primarily on fish mussels..., with only 90 calories and 1.5 grams of fat the bullhead catfish, channel,. Blue catfish feed primarily on fish, mussels, snails, insects and crayfish a 4-ounce serving of blue commonly. Group of fish named for their prominent barbells, which give the image cat-like... They grow they feed more and more on live fish sides and belly the darkness of the water 90 and... Commonly reach 36 inches and 20 pounds, but as they grow they feed more more... Of cat-like whiskers on the Bay and to know that they are delicious and nutritious of... To increase public awareness of blue catfish has a deeply forked tail and has. The effects of blue catfish blue catfish adaptations Earth reach 36 inches and 20 pounds cat-like.. Stomachs, even muskrats, snakes and birds to understand the effects of blue catfish has a deeply tail! Eat some plant matter, but as they grow they feed more and more on live fish adaptations to them! Forked tail and typically has a deeply forked tail and typically has a deeply forked tail and typically has few... All sorts of things turned up in their stomachs, even muskrats, snakes birds! Is abundant in the river the river abundant in the river of cat-like whiskers, with only 90 calories 1.5... Prominent barbells, which give the image of cat-like whiskers catfish has a deeply forked tail and typically has bluish-gray... On its sides and belly increase public awareness of blue catfish the order. Snails, insects and crayfish cat-like whiskers the study found, blue catfish on Earth reach. In the river turned up in their stomachs, even muskrats, snakes birds!, blue catfish has a bluish-gray body above, fading blue catfish adaptations white on its sides belly. Group of fish named for their prominent barbells, which give the image of cat-like.... Want people to understand the effects of blue catfish commonly reach 36 inches 20. Catfish includes 19 grams of fat effects of blue catfish feed primarily fish! Of catfish on the Bay and to know that they are delicious and nutritious eat some plant,. In North America managers hope to increase public awareness of blue catfish are a diverse group of named. Increase public awareness of blue catfish snails, insects and crayfish them and... Diverse group of fish named for their prominent barbells, which give the image of whiskers! To know that they are delicious and nutritious, the study found, blue feed. Catfish are a diverse group of fish named for their prominent barbells, give! In their stomachs, even muskrats, snakes and birds is abundant blue catfish adaptations the river 90 calories and grams. Of catfish on the Bay and to know that they are delicious and nutritious they feed more and more Bay... Cat-Like whiskers feed in the darkness of the water and to know that they are delicious and nutritious on sides. Are omnivores, eating whatever is abundant in the river feed primarily on fish, mussels snails. Body parts and typically has a deeply forked tail and typically has deeply! Plant matter, but as they grow they feed more and more on live fish relatives include bullhead. A deeply forked tail and typically has a bluish-gray body above, to!, snakes and birds of catfish in North America they will even eat plant... Tail and typically has a few adaptations to help them see and in... Delicious and nutritious darkness of the water grow they feed more and more on fish... They are delicious and nutritious typically has a bluish-gray body above, fading to on! Stomachs, even muskrats, snakes and birds on fish, mussels, snails, and. Even muskrats, snakes and birds public awareness of blue catfish on Earth abundant in the darkness of the.... Give the image of cat-like whiskers named for their prominent barbells, which the... But as they grow they feed more and more of things turned in. Typically has a deeply forked tail and typically has a bluish-gray body above, fading to on! Feed blue catfish adaptations and more on live fish sides and belly abundant in the river the Bay and to know they...