How to Breed Catfish

Catfish eat at night and will consume the algae in your aquarium.

Most species of catfish live in fresh water while few species live in salt water. The catfish species most commonly bred in aquariums is the bristlenose pleco because of its maximum size of 5 inches. Male and female catfish are hard to differentiate when young, but when the male becomes older it develops bushy bristles on the middle of its face and on its top lip; the female catfish will develop short bristles around her top lip. Baby catfish are referred to as fry.

Instructions

1. Prepare catfish for breeding by providing them with a nutritious diet such as steamed zucchini, beans or peas. Catfish also like bloodworms and enjoy chewing on driftwood. Ensure that the water in the aquarium is between 73 F and 84 F and that the pH value is neutral or slightly acidic. Provide a cave for breeding such as an empty ceramic flower pot placed in the aquarium.

2. Move catfish to a separate aquarium before spawning to prevent their eggs and fry from being eaten by other adult fish.

3. Insert a leaf of blanched lettuce in the aquarium for food once fry are free-swimming, which is when they are about 5 days old. As fry grow larger, feed them newly hatched brine shrimp or microworms.

4. Change water every day as fry are very sensitive to waste. Drain water through a net to catch the fry. Do not use a syphon as fry can become stuck.

Tips & Warnings

• Fry feed off their yolk sacs for the first few days of life and thus do not require to be fed immediately upon birth.

• The female's eggs will be attached to the inner wall of the cave.

References

• Aquatic Community: Breeding Bristlenosed Catfish
• Aquarium Fish Breeding: Breeding Catfish (pleco)
• Aquarticles: Breeding Bristlenosed Catfish
• Aquaxen: Breeding Bristlenose catfish