How do you tell the difference in fish that are 1 1/2"?
Blue And Channel Catfish
Started by
Guest_fishlvr_*
, Sep 03 2007 06:56 PM
14 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_BullHeadsrdfish_*
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Posted 03 September 2007 - 08:56 PM
How do you tell the difference in fish that are 1 1/2"?
If you look closely at the anal fin, the margin of the anal fin in the channel catfish is rounded and it contains from 24-29 rays, and in the Blue Catfish it is Straight and the anal fin contains 30 or more rays. Also Baby Channels typically have some dark spots. Hope This Helps.
#3
Guest_NativesRule_*
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Posted 02 February 2008 - 05:58 PM
If you look closely at the anal fin, the margin of the anal fin in the channel catfish is rounded and it contains from 24-29 rays, and in the Blue Catfish it is Straight and the anal fin contains 30 or more rays. Also Baby Channels typically have some dark spots. Hope This Helps.
I do apologize for starting up an old thread, I just didn't want to make a "New Thread" that already exists.
Today I saw at my lfs two Blue Channel Catfish. I am ignorant in the specifics of the Blue and the Channel Cat. But why do they call it a "Blue Channel Catfish"? Is it a Hybrid between 2 species? Or is the Blue Channel Cat and the Channel Cat 2 different species (Distant Cousins)?
I appreciate all responses thank you
#8
Guest_NativesRule_*
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Posted 02 February 2008 - 09:23 PM
"Blue" channel cats are the normal colored ones. They're labeled like that so that people know the price difference between the normal colored ones and the albino ones if they're in the same tank.
I dont understand why the one I have is grayish and the one at the fish store is dark blue??
As I stated before, are they both different species?
#9
Guest_Newt_*
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Posted 02 February 2008 - 09:49 PM
I dont understand why the one I have is grayish and the one at the fish store is dark blue??
As I stated before, are they both different species?
The Blue Catfish is Ictalurus furcatus. The Channel Catfish is I. punctatus. These are two different species, but they do hybridize. What "Blue Channel Catfish" means is ambiguous; it could be a hybrid, or it could be a color phase distinction for the Channel Cat as suggested above, or it could even be an odd name for the Blue Catfish.
If the fish has dark spots and a rounded anal fin, he is definitely not a full-blooded Blue Catfish, but he could still be a hybrid.
#11
Guest_NativesRule_*
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Posted 02 February 2008 - 10:03 PM
Count the fin rays. Compare the counts of the one at the store and the one you have. Channel catfish can vary in color, so it could be either channel cats or blue catfish.
The one I saw at the pet shop looks identical to mine, only difference is the deep dark blueish color and the tail seems shaped differently compared to mine.
#12
Guest_Newt_*
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Posted 02 February 2008 - 10:08 PM
Shaped differently how?
The color doesn't help, as channels and blues can both be blue. And the overall appearance of the two is quite similar unless you know what to look for.
Really, this probably can't be resolved without some clear photos of the petstore fish.
The color doesn't help, as channels and blues can both be blue. And the overall appearance of the two is quite similar unless you know what to look for.
Really, this probably can't be resolved without some clear photos of the petstore fish.
#13
Guest_Sal_*
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Posted 08 February 2008 - 05:07 AM
Thanks! I always wondered about that, makes perfect sense.
Those things can get pretty big, even the albino ones.
Amazing never saw an albino one not to mention big. I caught 4 channel cats today but let them all go they ranged from 14 to 18 inches and fought will (used earthworms attached to lure that I cast out let sink)
I had planned to eat them as clean large lake but felt bad removed the lure carefully and let them go
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