native channel and blue cats

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aquariusaquatics

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 3, 2014
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Grapevine, Texas
Im in the works of finishing my 600 gallon pond and am interested in collecting some channel cats and blues for the pond for cleaning. Ive got a 50 gallon bowfront id like to place them in until the pond is completed in two months. Will channels and blues tolerate company? I was thinking six 6-8 inchers with heavy water changes and filtration. Advice?

Any collecting and care tips would be awesome!
 
My advice would be don't get either period. Channels need a minimum of a 1000 gallon pond when adults since they'll get 3-3.5' long and Blues need even bigger since most will easily achieve 4'.
 
Channels can be territorial I would imagine blues are the same. I don't see a problem putting a single channel in a 600 gallon pond. Always wanted a pond with a bunch of albino channels in it. They will eat whatever fits in their mouths.


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Channels can be territorial I would imagine blues are the same. I don't see a problem putting a single channel in a 600 gallon pond. Always wanted a pond with a bunch of albino channels in it. They will eat whatever fits in their mouths.


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Maybe 1 but that's all I'd do and he's referring to multiples. 1 channel in a 600 with nice filtration would probably work.
 
Let's be realistic. A 600gal isn't hold all catfish. A single channel maybe but a blue catfish? Heck no. You will better off with bullheads.
 
I am doing something similar. I have a 300 gallon pond and I'm working on adding the second phase of it, which will be another 5500 gallons roughly connected by a stream. I love catfish and I'm trying to raise all the species of my state from babies. As of now I have a yellow bullhead, a flathead, a channel, and an albino channel in a 40 breeder. They are all less than 4" and they all hate each other already. I'm starting to wonder if my idea is going to work even if I have 5500 gallons for the larger species. I see guys post videos on here of blue, channel, and flathead cats coexisting in aquariums so that gives me some hope, but I'm not holding my breath.

As far as catching them, I don't collect often, but I managed to get two flatheads and a channel from a nearby river. They were all 3" or less at the time and I found more, but didn't catch them. I found them all just by turning over rocks. if you're looking for 6-8" guys i would probably try evening cast netting or rod and reel with smaller gear and bait.

Unfortunately I think the other guys are right. It will be hard to get them to coexist in such a small area and the blue would certainly outgrow it.

If you want to go the channel cat route you can find albinos for sale pretty regularly at fish stores. My local guy had no trouble ordering them for me. Bullheads are also a nice idea. I have a few in my 300 gallon pond that I raised from .75" and are currently 3-5". They get along well and it's really a lot of fun to feed them. If you hold a handful of food in the water they swarm and eat right from it.


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I am doing something similar. I have a 300 gallon pond and I'm working on adding the second phase of it, which will be another 5500 gallons roughly connected by a stream. I love catfish and I'm trying to raise all the species of my state from babies. As of now I have a yellow bullhead, a flathead, a channel, and an albino channel in a 40 breeder. They are all less than 4" and they all hate each other already. I'm starting to wonder if my idea is going to work even if I have 5500 gallons for the larger species. I see guys post videos on here of blue, channel, and flathead cats coexisting in aquariums so that gives me some hope, but I'm not holding my breath.

As far as catching them, I don't collect often, but I managed to get two flatheads and a channel from a nearby river. They were all 3" or less at the time and I found more, but didn't catch them. I found them all just by turning over rocks. if you're looking for 6-8" guys i would probably try evening cast netting or rod and reel with smaller gear and bait.

Unfortunately I think the other guys are right. It will be hard to get them to coexist in such a small area and the blue would certainly outgrow it.

If you want to go the channel cat route you can find albinos for sale pretty regularly at fish stores. My local guy had no trouble ordering them for me. Bullheads are also a nice idea. I have a few in my 300 gallon pond that I raised from .75" and are currently 3-5". They get along well and it's really a lot of fun to feed them. If you hold a handful of food in the water they swarm and eat right from it.


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Could i house one blue catfish in the aquarium around ten inches? I have several pond swtups as it is and plenty of seperate aquarium space. Ive always seen channels in shoals. Could i keep any small catfish just to growout? Or could i house a single blue around ten inches in the 50 for a month..?
 
I think you are missing the main point....you do not have any room for fully grown blue catfish, let alone house it with other catfish. Don't get a blue catfish, period.
 
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