[order Siluriformes]

There are some 2200 species of catfish in as many as 40 families and many genera. The greatest number of species is found Central and South America (including one recently discovered in Mexico that may have been around since dinosaur days). Some catfish are ocean fish but most live in fresh water. Catfish do not have scales but some species are covered with overlapping armor plates.

No scales means catfish are not kosher, so observant Jews need to use Carp (and deal with the spines) or Tilapia instead. Carp is traditional in Europe but some think Tilapia is the fish Jesus distributed along with loaves.

The heaviest catfish are Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) which can reach 9 feet and over 600 pounds. Unfortunately they are currently listed as critically endangered and should not be fished or eaten. The longest is the Eurasian Wels catfish (Silurus glanis) which can reach nearly 10 feet and 330 pounds. This fish is common in central, southern and eastern Europe, in the Baltic region and the Caspian Sea. It is currently listed as LC (Least Concern).

Caution:   Catfish generally have strong sharp spines at the leading edges of their fins which can cause puncture wounds, and these spines are associated with poison glands. Toxicity of North American catfish ranges from "not much" to requiring some medical attention, but at least one South American species is deadly and a few others there will land you in the hospital.   Illustration of Blue Catfish by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service = public domain.   -   More on Fish Varieties.

Only a few species are fished and farmed commercially, with the U.S. South and Vietnam as the major producers of catfish sold in North America. Asian markets in Los Angeles sell several varieties of catfish from under 1 pound to over 6 pounds, some of the smaller are available live from the store's fish tanks.

We have separate articles on each of the types most available commercially in North America:

Channel Catfish - [Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus]
Catfish farming is a sizeable industry in the U.S. where the Channel Cat dominates. Most catfish are grown (and consumed) in the Southern States but they are widely available in the rest of North America. The photo specimen weighed 4-3/4 pounds (factory cleaned) and was 23-1/2 inches long.   Details & Cooking.

Bullhead - [Ameiurus melas (Black Bullhead) | Ameiurus nebulosus (Brown Bullhead) | Ameiurus natalis (Yellow Bullhead); all of family Ictaluridae]
Bullheads are a variety of American freshwater catfish that inhabits slow moving backwaters with soft bottoms. They differ from most catfish in having squared off tails and being relatively small in size.

These fish can grow to over 24 inches and nearly 8 pounds, but are commonly about 10 inches and 1 pound (A. natalis a little smaller). A. melas has been introduced to Europe where it forms dense stunted populations, making it rather unpopular. These fish tolerate very adverse conditions, so it's unlikely they'll be able to get rid of them now. The photo specimen, probably A. melas or a hybrid, was 12-1/2 inches long and weighed 1 pound 4-1/2 ounces.   Details & Cooking.

Sheatfish - [family Siluridae (Sheatfishes)]
There are many genera and species in this catfish family, but only a few are fished and farmed commercially. Most live in the rivers and lakes of Southeast Asia and China, though by far the largest, Silurus glanis, is found in the Baltic region of Europe and the Black and Aral Sea regions. The photo shows Micronema bleekeri which can grow to nearly 24 inches but the photo specimen was 16 inches and weighed 14 ounces.   Details & Cooking.

Vietnamese Catfish   -   [Basa (US); Cá Ba sa (Viet); Pangasius pangasius   |   Swai (US); Pla Sawai (Thai); Cá Tra (Viet), Iridescent Shark, Striped Catfish, Striper (Trader Joe's); Pangasius. hypophthalmus   |   Cá Ba sa (Viet); Pangasius bocourti]

On the Internet, there are more outright lies about these fish than just about any other food item - lies spread mainly by unethical catfish farmers. Faced with competition, these farmers chose smear campaigns and political manipulation rather than improve their methods to compete. These catfish are very different from American catfish and require extensive preparation to be marketable here, so only frozen fillets are sent to North America. These may range from 2 ounces to over 11 ounces, sold in bags of a single size.

Two varieties are widely farmed, Basa (P. pangasius) and Swai / Tra (P. hypophthalmus), but what is shipped to the U.S. is mostly Swai. Basa is preferred in Vietnam but, since U.S. buyers don't care, the faster growing Swai is shipped. Swai fillets are thinner and a little coarser than Basa.   Details and Cooking  

Walking Catfish - [Clarias batrachus - also C. gareipinus North African catfish and hybrids of the two]

This air breathing catfish quickly becomes a pest in subtropical regions, especially since it can travel fairly long distances over land from one body of water to another. Brought to Florida for fish farming, it escaped and is now notorious for invading fish farms and eating all the fish. Native to Southeast Asia it can grow to over 18 inches and over 2-1/2 pounds but the photo specimen was 17 inches and 1-1/2 pounds. Hybrids with the North African variety can be much larger, and that variety itself can grow to 120 pounds.   Details and Cooking

Flathead Catfish - [Mississippi Catfish, Yellow Catfish, Opelousa Catfish, Mud Catfish, Shovelhead Catfish, Pylodictis olivaris]

A very large Mississippi catfish noted mainly as a sport fish but pretty good eating too. Details & Cooking.   Illustration by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service = public domain.

Blue Catfish - [Ictalurus furcatus]
The largest Mississippi catfish and the second best North American catfish for eating, after the closely related Channel Catfish. Details & Cooking.   Illustration by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service = public domain.

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