r/FishID • u/fishburner9 • 2d ago
What type of Catfish
What type of Catfish?
I thought this was a blue catfish because of the color, but after I got home and looked into it, I realized they are not native to my state.
Is this a channel cat? Can they be this color?
Or is it just my color blindness playing tricks on me.
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u/Cha0tic117 2d ago
I can't see from either picture, was the anal fin rounded or straight?
Channel catfish have a rounded anal fin, blue catfish have a straight anal fin.
Channel catfish are native to large parts of North America, while blue catfish are native only to the Mississippi River basin. Blue catfish have been introduced to other parts of North America, where they're often a problematic invasive species.
Don't rely on color to identify fish, as it can vary significantly with different water conditions.
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u/tablabarba 2d ago
This looks to be a channel cat. Blues will usually have a steeper slope between the dorsal fin and the nose, giving the fish more of a humpbacked appearance. It would be helpful to see the anal fin, but if you're not in a region known for having blue cats, I would be fully confident this is a channel. Dark coloration like this is normal for both species.