Reproduction

Species Reference: 
Ictalurus punctatus
EoL id: 
204762
EoL DataObjectVersion id: 
25065141
Subject: 
http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#Reproduction
Section: 
Reproduction
Description: 

Channel catfish find a single mate during each season. Males court females to convince them to mate with them. The male and female mate in the summer but the relationship is established earlier in the year. Males and females mate by swimming together and releasing the eggs and sperm at the same time into a nest built by the female or both the male and female. After mating has occurred the male chases away the female and then guards the eggs until they hatch.

Mating System: monogamous

Channel catfish spawn in the summer. After hatching the juveniles take from two days to two weeks until they are independent. Channel catfish make nests in hidden places, for example, in enclosed cans, under overhangs or in deep holes that provide extra protection from predators.

Breeding interval: Breeding occurs once yearly.

Breeding season: Spawning occurs in the summer, May through July.

Range number of offspring: 3,000 to 50,000.

Range time to hatching: 4 to 10 days.

Range time to independence: 0.5 to 4 weeks.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 to 3 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 to 3 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous

Channel catfish parents invest a lot into their offspring. After spawning the male chases the female away from the nest, but she does not leave completely. She will protect her eggs from a distance. The male and female will attack predators and chase them away with an open mouth but will not eat them. The male also provides the juveniles with a source of food by burrowing, a process where the fish swim down into the mud on the bottom of the body of water and thrash from side to side stirring up food particles for the offspring to eat. The female also provides food for the juveniles by positioning her body about a meter above the nest and then releasing eggs for the juveniles to eat. Together the male and female provide protection and food for their young.

Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female)

References: 

McKaye, K., D. Mughogho, J. Stauffer Jr.. 1994. Sex-role differentiation in feeding and defence of young by biparental catfish,. Animal Behaviour, 48: 587-596.

2004. "Northwest Power and Conservation Council-Subbasin Planning" (On-line pdf). Volume III: Chapter 9, Channel Catfish. Accessed October 23, 2004 at http://www.nwppc.org/fw/subbasinplanning/lowerColumbia/plan/TechnicalFou....

Chapman, F. 2000. "University of Florida IFAS Extension" (On-line). Farm-raised Channel Catfish. Accessed October 25, 2004 at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_FA010.

Mayhew, J. 1987. "Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources" (On-line). Channel Catfish. Accessed October 23, 2004 at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/chancat.html.

Vallentgoed, T. 2004. "McMaster University" (On-line). Catfish. Accessed October 25, 2004 at http://www.science.mcmaster.ca/Biology/Harbour/SPECIES/CATFISH/CATFISH.HTM.

Source: 
BioKIDS Critter Catalog
Source URL: 
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Ictalurus_punctatus/
License: 
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights Holder: 
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors