Catfish Pond Care

Catfish are bottom-feeding freshwater fish that are known for their catlike whiskers, as well as being very easy to maintain in a pond. They have a very diverse diet that includes aquatic plants and carrion, so they are excellent for pond health, whether you're going to have a single species pond or you're going to opt for multiple species.

  1. Health of Catfish Pond

    • Catfish do not need a lot of care, but you will want to keep a close eye out for disease markers. You don't want any health issues spreading throughout your entire catfish stock if you can avoid it. If you have multiple fish species in the pond, you'll also want to avoid spreading diseases to the rest of the fish. Changes in swimming level (catfish should stick to the bottom primarily), color and feeding habits are all signs of potential problems. Parasites are a particular problem if you're using wild catfish, and need to be treated quickly.

    Best Type of Catfish for Your Pond

    • Catfish are an incredibly widespread species, found on every continent except for Antarctica. While there are many different types of catfish, the most common in the United States is channel catfish. This is the most frequently farmed catfish, and is the one that ends up on dinner plates across the country most often. It's popular mainly because it is one of the most numerous species of catfish and because they can grow up to 40 to 50 pounds.

    Catfish Pond Care Considerations

    • Catfish can coexist with other fish like koi or bass, but they don't get along well with bream. You'll also want to avoid adding other bottom feeders so there is not too much competition for food. The ideal pond size is 8 to 10 acres in surface area and 6 feet in depth. This size is easy to manage while still allowing for a good stock of catfish, and this depth has been shown to increase life expectancy of the fish.

    What Catfish Eat

    • Catfish are very easy to train to take either top or bottom floating feed. They are omnivorous by nature, and will essentially eat anything that they can fit in their mouths, including decaying organisms, aquatic plants and small fish. They also eat aquatic insects as a large part of their diet. One of the most fascinating food items that catfish eat is Ivory soap, which is a popular bait used in catfish fishing.

    Numbers of Catfish in a Pond

    • Ponds have a limited amount oxygen in the water, so you want to make sure that you do not overstock your pond. Symptoms of overstocking include a large amount of sick fish, fish that are dying suddenly (suffocation) and changes in swimming patterns. To avoid overstocking, you should plan on 100 catfish per acre or less. This gives you a good amount of fish to work with, while ensuring that they will also survive to full size.