Comparison of Culture Traits of Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, and Blue Catfish I. furcatus

Abstract

Culture of channel catfish, "Ictalurus punctatus," accounts for virtually all catfish production. Recently, however, an increasing number of catfish farmers are growing or are considering the culture of blue catfish, "I. furcatus." Current and past research the compared the culture traits of channel and blue catfish are reviewed. Blue catfish could be potentially advantageous for certain farm environments. Strain effects in both species are important. In general, channel catfish grow faster to market size than do blue catfish. However, some strains of blue catfish grow faster than many strains of channel catfish. Blue catfish are more vulnerable to parasites such as "Icthyophthirius" and to bacterial infections such as those from "Flexibacter columnaris when compared to channel catfish. Blue catfish do not tolerate handling as well as channel catfish, and handling stress often leads to infections in blue catfish. However, blue catfish have high resistance to enteric septicemia of catfish caused by "Edwardsiella ictaluri" and to channel catfish virus when compared to channel catfish. Blue catfish are twice as vulnerable to harvest by seining than channel catfish, and have a higher dress-out percentage than most strains of channel carfish. Channel catfish tolerate lower dissolved oxygen levels than do blue catfish. Blue catfish require one more year to reach sexual maturity than do channel catfish.