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Catfish is a fish that is characterized by long antennae protruding from the sides of the face, similar to a cat’s whiskers. There are about 3000 species of catfish, of which the channel catfish is the most common. Most species live in fresh water, but there are some species, such as the hard-headed catfish, that live in salt water. You probably think that catfish eat mouse fish (is this a thing?), but let’s find out what they eat!
How is catfish eaten?
Are the catfish waiting for food to arrive, or are they actively looking for food? As scavengers, they are always looking for food. They seem to prefer fresh food, but will also eat dead animals / fish that are available. The catfish uses antennae on its face to find prey. The antennae have taste and smell that help them find food in the dark, murky waters in which they usually live.
What do catfish eat?
Catfish are feeding adapters, which means they adapt to the currently available food. They eat a variety of small fish, crayfish, snails, molluscs and frogs. They will also eat algae and the remains of dead fish and plants floating in the water. Riding catfish, those that live in salt water, will eat algae, sea cucumbers, shrimp and blue crabs.
A complete list of what catfish eat:
- Cancer
- Small fish
- Snails
- Molluscs
- Aquatic insects
- Seaweed
- Frogs
- Detritus
- Phytoplankton
- Seaweed
- Sea cucumbers
- Shrimp
- Blue crabs
Do young catfish eat the same food as adults?
The diets of young and adult catfish differ. In a study of channel catfish conducted in Central Italy, researchers looked at the catfish diet to compare what they eat. They found that males and females appeared to have similar diets, but the diets of the young catfish and the older catfish were different. The stomachs of the smaller catfish contained detritus (crushed parts of dead plants and animals) and phytoplankton (microscopic unicellular plants). In the stomachs of an adult catfish were gudgeon (a small fish the size of your index finger) and red marsh crayfish. Based on this study, it was found that since catfish can handle larger fish and crayfish, they themselves become larger.
How do catfish fit into the ecosystem?
According to NOAA, one of the catfish species, the blue catfish, is considered an invasive species. In the Chesapeake Bay area, Blue Catfish are creating imbalances in the food web. Because they can eat such a variety of foods, their numbers are growing. They will also challenge and defeat larger fish, which also disrupts the food chain. Working groups have been set up to deal with this problem and develop a blue catfish population management plan in the area.
What does catfish eat?
Does Crispy southern fried catfish sounds good to you? This is because it is delicious, which makes the person one of the catfish’s predators. Crocodiles, birds of prey, and larger fish also eat catfish, but they usually skip the cajun seasoning!
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