Blue catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
Also known asHigh-fin blue
Water parameters
Minimum tank: 1000 L per individual at harvest size.
Feed and growth
- Feed protein
- 32% target
- Daily feed (warm)
- 2.50% of body weight
- Daily feed (cool)
- 1.00% of body weight
- Max density
- 50 g per litre
A 4000 g adult eats about 100.0 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~1000 g daily.
Legality
Rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | legal | Actively encouraged as harvest target to reduce Chesapeake Bay invasive population verified 2026-05-14 |
| Virginia | legal | Same Chesapeake context; commercial harvest encouraged verified 2026-05-14 |
Unlisted jurisdictions default to "check local regulations".
Origin and habitat
Native to the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio River basins and Gulf Coast drainages from Texas to Guatemala. The species (Ictalurus furcatus) is the largest catfish species in North America, with wild specimens exceeding 60 kg (the IGFA all-tackle record is 64.8 kg from Kerr Reservoir, Virginia). Found in large rivers with moderate to strong current, preferring deeper, faster-moving water than channel catfish. Blue catfish are predatory omnivores: adults feed primarily on other fish (shad, herring), crayfish, and freshwater mussels, while juveniles consume insects and invertebrates. The flesh is white, firm, and noticeably milder than channel catfish, making it a premium commercial product. The species has been introduced outside its native range for sport fishing and has become highly invasive in Chesapeake Bay tributaries, where exploding populations threaten native blue crabs, shad, and other species.
Climate and outdoor ponds
- Climate
- temperate (handles seasonal swings)
- USDA zones
- 5–11 (winter low around -29°C or warmer)
- Heating needed
- no
- Cooling needed
- no
Care notes
A large-bodied catfish option for aquaponics operators with substantial tank volume (500 L minimum, 1000+ preferred for grow-out). Blue catfish grow larger and are more predatory than channel catfish, creating both opportunities (bigger fillets, premium mild flesh, higher per-fish value) and management challenges (cannibalism, larger system requirements, greater aggression). Growth rate is comparable to channel catfish: 500–1 g in 12-24 months on commercial catfish pellet (32-36% protein), though blue catfish continue growing well beyond 2 kg given time and feed. FCR is 1.5-2.0, similar to channel catfish. Temperature tolerance is broad (5–32°C), with optimal growth at 24–28°C. Dissolved oxygen tolerance is good but not as extreme as channel catfish; keep above 3 mg/L. Stocking density: 10-20 g/L, lower than channel catfish because blue catfish are more aggressive. Cannibalism is a real concern with mixed size classes; maintain tight size grading and never combine fish differing by more than 30% in length. Fingerlings are available from catfish hatcheries in the southeastern US. Legal in most states without special permits.