Freshwater aquaculture

Unit 4 - Cultivable fish and their culture methods

4.2. Catfish culture
Owing to their unique taste and texture, cat fishes are considered a delicacy by some consumers. However, large scale commercial culture of these fish is currently not being carried out in India, except the culture of recently introduced exotic Thai catfish Pangasiodonhypothalamus. Experimental and pilot scale culture for some native fish such the magur (Clarias batrachus), singhi (Heteropneustis fossilis) and the butter cat fish (Ompak bimaculatus) has been developed by several research Institutes in India. Government of India has now identified catfish farming as a national priority as a part of diversification of aquaculture practices.
Air breathing cat fish such as magur and singhi have a greater potential for culture in shallow, swampy, marshy and derelict water bodies. Non-airbreathing catfish such as Pangasius pungasius, Wallago attu, Ompak sp, Mystus sp., etc can be grown in normal pond conditions. However, culture techniques for these species needs to developed.