Catfish recommendations for large pond w/ Koi

[catfishguy]

Hello everyone,

I have a very large koi pond and I'm looking at getting some catfish to add some variety. Before I get anything though I'm worried about a few things:

Firstly will they do well in Minnesota (zone 4).
Secondly will they bother the koi in any way.
Thirdly will they breed to quickly and become a problem.

My question is, what species would you recommend in this situation and does anyone have and experience with keeping catfish with koi. So far I've considered a Wels catfish or flathead.

P.S If anyone has any cool non catfish recommendations I'd love to hear them.

 

[Rtc/tsn]

Hello everyone,

I have a very large koi pond and I'm looking at getting some catfish to add some variety. Before I get anything though I'm worried about a few things:

Firstly will they do well in Minnesota (zone 4).
Secondly will they bother the koi in any way.
Thirdly will they breed to quickly and become a problem.

My question is, what species would you recommend in this situation and does anyone have and experience with keeping catfish with koi. So far I've considered a Wels catfish or flathead.

P.S If anyone has any cool non catfish recommendations I'd love to hear them.

If you keep temperature good you could try a redtail shark they get decent size and I think would look pretty with koi or maybe some type of ripsaw or Irwini catfish can we see pictures of pond

 

[catfishguy]

It's a bit to late for pics tonight bit I'll take them after work tomorrow. I'd love to keep tropical fish but it's simply to large to heat, I really don't know how many gallons it is. All I know is that it's lined and 13+ feet deep and a ~100 feet in diameter.

 

[FLA]

I don't have much of an idea for a Zone 4 catfish other than channels and bullheads which you have native. I like albino channels in, ponds, but most of those are bred in the south and I don't know how they acclimate. That is a huge pond which should make it easier for you though. The non catfish idea that jumps out at me is sturgeon. Maybe you can pull off a highfin banded loach, but I think you are too cold for that.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

The wels catfish is listed as injurious wildlife in the US on the federal level. Its listed under the Lacey Act so kind of a bad fish to have especially in an outdoor pond setting.

 

[Krismo962]

thebiggerthebetter

 

[Caveden]

Why not redtail catfishes?

 

[Rtc/tsn]

Why not redtail catfishes?

For RTC you’d need a massive area for more than one and you’d need to keep the water decently warm

 

[tlindsey]

No Redtail it would die in zone 4. Please keep suggestion reasonable.

 

[Gunfleet]

I'd think Bullhead catfish may be your best choice based on adult size (under 18"), availability and hardiness. You could do Channel cats, but they tend to get large. If it was me, I would go looking for the Yellow Bullhead.

Maybe do some research on cold water loaches....that could be an interesting option.