I'm specifically referring to the "Clarias Batrachus" species . I've read on the internet that they get to anywhere from 18 inches to 28 inches. There seems to be a lack of consistency and agreed data on their maximum adult size. I might be planning on keeping them, particularily the albino morphs. Also whats the expected lifespan for them ?
How big does the walking catfish get ?
- Thread starter Capten_Munch
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I've owned C.batrachus that were 24+ inches when they went to new owners; started at about 2 inches.
But you're asking for a hard and fast answer where one doesn't exist. What's the maximum height of an adult human? A reasonable answer might be 6foot 2inches...or 4inches...or...you get the idea. The fact that one person in 1,000,000 achieves a height of 6feet 10inches means that, technically, such a height is possible...but are you going to expect it?
The world record Largemouth Bass weighed well over 20 pounds; but ask even the most ardent angler how many of that species he has caught that exceeded 15 or even 10 pounds. It's just not the norm. And fish, unlike people, continue to grow, albeit slowly, for most or all of their lives...making this answer even more difficult to pin down.
In the case of batrachus, I think it would be reasonable to say that just about any specimen should easily reach that 18-inch size within only a few years...and if properly maintained for an extended period, 28-inches is very possible...and likely more, in the rare case of a fish that lives a long, lucky life and meets with no misfortune or disaster.
So...how big exactly will your fish get? Exactly about a couple feet, maybe more.
Enjoy your Clarias! They are very cool fish to keep and watch...although a real PITA with most tankmates...
But you're asking for a hard and fast answer where one doesn't exist. What's the maximum height of an adult human? A reasonable answer might be 6foot 2inches...or 4inches...or...you get the idea. The fact that one person in 1,000,000 achieves a height of 6feet 10inches means that, technically, such a height is possible...but are you going to expect it?
The world record Largemouth Bass weighed well over 20 pounds; but ask even the most ardent angler how many of that species he has caught that exceeded 15 or even 10 pounds. It's just not the norm. And fish, unlike people, continue to grow, albeit slowly, for most or all of their lives...making this answer even more difficult to pin down.
In the case of batrachus, I think it would be reasonable to say that just about any specimen should easily reach that 18-inch size within only a few years...and if properly maintained for an extended period, 28-inches is very possible...and likely more, in the rare case of a fish that lives a long, lucky life and meets with no misfortune or disaster.
So...how big exactly will your fish get? Exactly about a couple feet, maybe more.
Enjoy your Clarias! They are very cool fish to keep and watch...although a real PITA with most tankmates...
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To answer Capten's question, even though I've never had these fish, I have seen individuals of about 90-100cm sold live at an Asian seafood market. You may have to plan for a fish of this size, just in case you get an individual that reaches it.
I heard they are good to eat. Those 90-100cm ones were wild caught, so they would reach those sizes. In captivity however it is near impossible, more in the range of what jjohnwnn said.
Most of these walking catfish are commonly sold here in Singapore as feeder fish in bags. I wonder if they are expensive in other countries…
Indeed!
I agree with you that in most cases, it's unlikely in captivity. But that's because almost no one can provide an appropriate tank size, so their growth gets stunted.
Not only do walking catfish get big, they're also pretty active. A similarly active catfish I've kept is the pictus catfish, and I find they only really do well in tanks 12x or more their length, so perhaps walking catfish also need something in that ballpark to reach 90-100cm sizes instead of being stunted.
That would be a 10.8-12m tank. If my guess is correct it's easy to see why almost no one can provide an appropriate tank size.
I don't know who came up with that idea, but it's a really bad one. The spines of the walking catfish are likely to kill or injure whatever fish they're being fed to.
There's someone on YouTube who fed feeder size walking catfish to their aba aba knifefish. Talk about Russian roulette.
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i enjoyed ur 1st response ??… dont agree with this 2nd one tho lol… even in wild fish populations, more often than not the “majority” do not reach anywhere near “record sizes” with all the space in the world… time is a big one no one ever accounts for. A maxium size fish is easily 20-25+ yrs old. Space is only 1 factor in making a monster. Food is way more important for growth. Wild fish will be “stunted” from lack of food more than anything else. IME tank size will not stop a large fish from growing unless its under extreme circumstances for example a rtc in a 55gal for 25 yrs. with poor diet. You could easily grow a fish large enough to break ur tank long before its stunted.
Wild fish can go through feast and famine periods during the year and still get to large growth. Lack of food for aquarium fish is not an issue with stunting. Lack of water changes is more common, hence stunting before breaking the tank.
Glad you liked it!
Isn't this just because they often get eaten or killed (such as by a predator or natural disaster) before they can reach those sizes?
I don't think those walking catfish are record size, by the way. There are always plenty of big ones at the Asian markets, which is precisely the opposite of a record.
Regardless of how long it takes, the size is still reached, so the appropriate tank size to accomodate it will be needed at that point.
Rocksor beat me to it.
I was referring to more active fish when I said that. You are right that some fish do grow to full size even in too small tanks, but those as far as I have seen are more inactive ones.
More active fish that are frequently stunted from lack of exercise in too small tanks include pangasius catfish, some large barb species, and some silver dollars. I don't see why active walking catfish wouldn't also get stunted like this.
Out of the eight or so pie bald true batrachus I’ve kept over the years not one has reached 24” and this is with decent food, plenty of years and 1200ukg to grow in.
Many of the other Clarias may reach 90cm and more but I have yet to see a pie bald batrachus over 60cm.
Many of the other Clarias may reach 90cm and more but I have yet to see a pie bald batrachus over 60cm.