What Do Large Catfish Eat?

Each of the many species of large catfish has a different diet. The largest species of catfish in the world eats only plant life, while others that reach substantial sizes are omnivores or carnivores. Different species also have different eating habits. Some hunt only at night, while others are active during the day.

  1. Mekong Giant Catfish

    • The Mekong River of Southeast Asia is home to the Mekong giant catfish, which is the world's largest scaleless freshwater fish. This species of catfish can grow to 10 feet and weigh 650 lb. Mekong giant catfish are toothless, limiting their diet. They are an herbivore that feeds on plants, plankton and algae found in the river. They need large stretches of water for feeding and breeding purposes. Due to their large size they have been heavily fished, putting their future in jeopardy.

    Channel Catfish

    • The channel catfish is one of the most abundant species of catfish in North America. Channel catfish can reach sizes of 40 to 50 lb., although 20-lb. specimens are considered big for their species. Unlike the Mekong giant catfish, channel catfish are omnivores, feeding off both plants and animals. Smaller and newborn channel catfish will primarily eat small insects. Adults will feed on insects, mollusks, crustaceans, fish, plant material and numerous types of fishing bait.

    Blue Catfish

    • Blue catfish are a large breed of catfish closely related to channel catfish, but bigger. They can reach 5 feet in length and weigh more than 100 lb. They live in the clean water of large lakes, rivers and reservoirs throughout the U.S. Blue catfish are primarily nocturnal feeders. This species of catfish will eat almost anything that is available, such as small fish, crayfish, frogs, clams, mussels and insects. They will also feed on both live and dead organisms. When blue catfish reach large sizes, they often eat only fish.

    Wels Catfish

    • In Europe, the largest species of catfish is the wels catfish, which is much bigger than the species found in North America. The maximum size of these catfish is often debated, but it is not uncommon for them to reach weights of 154 lbs. and lengths of more than 5 feet. This species of catfish is active during the night and will feed on worms, insects, crustaceans and other fish. Larger wels catfish can feed on frogs, ducks and large rodents near the surface.