Hybrid catfish
Clarias gariepinus × Clarias macrocephalus
Also known asAfrican × Asian hybrid catfish
Water parameters
Minimum tank: 600 L per individual at harvest size.
Feed and growth
- Feed protein
- 35% target
- Daily feed (warm)
- 2.50% of body weight
- Daily feed (cool)
- 0.50% of body weight
- Max density
- 100 g per litre
A 2500 g adult eats about 62.5 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~625 g daily.
Legality
Rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States (federal) | prohibited | C. gariepinus parent line is Lacey Act injurious; hybrid inherits same restrictions verified 2026-05-13 |
| Queensland | prohibited | verified 2026-05-13 |
| European Union (bloc) | check local regulations | verified 2026-05-13 |
Unlisted jurisdictions default to "check local regulations".
Origin and habitat
A cross between channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) females and blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) males, commercially produced in the United States catfish industry since the 2000s. The hybrid combines the faster growth and better feed conversion of blue catfish with the disease resistance and ease of culture of channel catfish. Hybrid catfish now account for over 50% of US catfish production, primarily in Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas pond farms. The hybrid exhibits heterosis (hybrid vigor): faster growth to harvest size, better fillet yield (a higher percentage of body weight as usable meat), improved tolerance to low dissolved oxygen, and more uniform body shape than either parent species. The flesh is white, firm, and mild, suitable for both the domestic catfish market and export.
Climate and outdoor ponds
- Climate
- tropical (needs warm water year-round)
- USDA zones
- 10–13 (winter low around -1°C or warmer)
- Heating needed
- yes
- Cooling needed
- no
Care notes
The current industry standard catfish for US aquaculture and a strong candidate for aquaponics. Hybrid catfish grow to harvest size (500–800 g) in 12-18 months, roughly 20-30% faster than pure channel catfish under the same conditions. FCR is 1.4-1.8 on commercial catfish pellet (32-36% protein), better than either parent species. The higher fillet yield (38-42% vs. 33-37% for channel catfish) means more usable meat per fish. Temperature tolerance is broad (5–35°C), with optimal growth at 26–30°C. Dissolved oxygen tolerance is good: they survive brief dips below 2 mg/L. Stocking density in aquaponics: 15-25 g/L with adequate biofiltration. The main limitation is fingerling availability: hybrid catfish fingerlings are produced by controlled artificial spawning (the two species don't hybridize naturally in ponds), and most production is oriented toward large commercial buyers rather than small aquaponics operators. Some hatcheries sell small quantities; contact farms in the Mississippi Delta region. Hybrid catfish are not self-sustaining; they breed poorly if at all, so maintaining the population requires purchasing new fingerlings for each production cycle. This is advantageous for aquaponics because it prevents the uncontrolled reproduction that plagues tilapia systems.