04/09/2017
Hi out there. This long awaited enlightening piece on catfish species will eventually broaden your knowledge on catfish species such that you now tell your catfish fingerlings supplier what you want and you no more accept anything you are supplied. It is worthy of note that we do not claim to know it all and if you think there is any error, kindly mail us on [email protected] or WhatsApp 08089153218. We do know that a lot of people count on their experience and we try to encourage them to give the ideas they get on our page a try.
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Remember, before you start your catfish business you need to know the various species and their characteristics, at least, the ones that will be relevant to your success in the catfish industry.
The catfish family is a very large one both in Nigeria and other parts of the world and for the sake of space and brevity, we'll look at those species that are relevant to your fish farming success in Nigeria.
Catfish species
To avoid boring you with much theoretical facts, the catfish genus (or types) relevant to the catfish industry in Nigeria are:
1. Clarias
2. Heterobranchus
Clarias
In the Clarias genus alone, there are 61 identified species but the most common species found in Nigeria are;
a) Clarias gariepinus,
b) Clarias nigrodigitatus
c) Clarias anguillaris
While the available 'hetero' species are;
a) Heterobranchus bidorsalis
b) Heterobranchus longifillis
Lastly, there are also hybrids which may be obtained from a lot of crossbreeds but the most common is that obtained from C. gariepinus and Heterobranchus longifillis generally called 'Heteroclarias'.
Clarias gariepinus
Scientific data:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Clariidae
Genus: Clarias
Species: C. gariepinus
Clarias gariepinus or African sharptooth catfish is a species of catfish of the family Clariidae, the airbreathing catfishes.
They are found throughout Africa and the Middle East, and live in freshwater lakes, rivers, and swamps, as well as human-made habitats, such as oxidation ponds or even urban sewage systems.
Description
The African sharptooth catfish is a large, eel-like fish, usually of dark gray or black coloration on the back, fading to a white belly.
These fish have slender bodies, flat bony heads and broad, terminal mouths with four pairs of barbels. The head is also somewhat between rectangular and pointed in dorsal outline; while its eyes are supero-lateral and relatively small
It has teeth on premaxilla and lower jaw small, fine and arranged in several rows;
In Africa, this catfish grows very large and has been reported as being second in size only to the vundu of the Zambesian waters.
Can leave the water at night using its strong pectoral fins and spines in search of land-based food or can move into the breeding areas through very shallow pathways.
It is a nocturnal fish like many catfish. It feeds on living, as well as dead, animal matter. Because of its wide mouth, it is able to swallow relatively large prey whole.
Are omnivorous bottom feeders which occasionally feed at the surface.
They also have large accessory breathing organs composed of modified gill arches. The presence of an accessory breathing organ enables this species to breath air when very active or under very dry conditions. It is also able to crawl on dry ground to escape drying pools. Further, it is able to survive in shallow mud for long periods of time, between rainy seasons occasionally gulp air through the mouth
In the wild, adults occur mainly in quiet waters, lakes and pools and prefer rather shallow and swampy areas though they also occur in fast flowing rivers and rapids.
The rearing of the African sharptooth catfish in Africa started in the early 1970s in Central and Western Africa, as it was realized to be a very suitable species for aquaculture, as:
It grows fast and feeds on a large variety of agriculture byproducts
It is hardy and tolerates adverse water quality conditions
It can be raised in high densities, resulting in high net yields (6–16 t/ha/year).
In most countries, it fetches a higher price than tilapia, as it can be sold live at the market
It matures and relatively easily
It tolerates difficult conditions in aquaculture making it one of the most preferred.
Next we'll discuss the 'hetero' species, the hybrids then we'll show their distinctive features which you can easily use to identify them and their characteristics as regards to their choice for market. Stay with us.
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