What is the difference between channel catfish and catfish? Teach you to quickly tell the two fish apart

Channel catfish is also called channel cat, spotted fork-tailed catfish, and catfish is the same as sheatfish, sticky fish; they are all fish of the order Siluriformes, and their appearance looks very similar, but there are also differences. So, what is the difference between channel catfish and catfish?

Difference one, different species: channel catfish is a fish of the family Ictaluridae in the order Siluriformes, and catfish is a fish of the family Siluridae in the order Siluriformes.

Difference two, different appearance: the tail of the channel catfish is forked, and the head has 4 pairs and 8 barbels, 1 pair of nasal barbels, 1 pair of maxillary barbels, and 2 pairs of chin barbels; the maxillary barbels are the longest, and the nasal barbels are the shortest. The tail of the catfish is not forked, and the head has 2 pairs and 4 barbels, the upper ones long and the lower ones short.

Difference three, different distribution: channel catfish is distributed in the central United States river basins, southern Canada and parts of the Atlantic coastal areas. It was introduced into China in 1984. At present, it is suitable for farming in most areas of our country. It mainly inhabits the bottom layers of lakes and rivers with gravel and stones, likes to feed in groups under dark light conditions, and has the feeding habit of hiding by day and coming out at night. Catfish is distributed all over the world, mainly living in the middle and lower layers of rivers, lakes, reservoirs and ponds, mostly active in coastal areas. During the day, it mostly hides in grass, under stones or at the bottom of deep water, and at night it feeds frequently.

Difference four, different feeding habits: channel catfish is an omnivorous fish mainly feeding on plant-based feed. Its main feeding targets are benthic organisms, aquatic insects, zooplankton, rotifers, organic debris and large algae. Catfish is a carnivorous fish, and its prey is mostly small fish, such as Hemiculter leucisculus, crucian carp, gobies, topmouth gudgeon, common carp, loach, etc., and it also eats shrimp and aquatic insects.

Difference five, different nutrition: channel catfish has extremely high nutritional value, with the characteristics of being very fresh and very nourishing, and its meat is thick and boneless, the skin smooth and the meat tender, rich and delicious. Catfish is rich in nutrition, has the effects of strengthening essence and bones and prolonging life, and its meat is tender, with few bones, rich and delicious, appetizing and easy to digest.

Although channel catfish and catfish are both fish of the order Siluriformes, channel catfish is a fish of the family Ictaluridae in the order Siluriformes, and catfish is a fish of the family Siluridae in the order Siluriformes. Moreover, the tail of the channel catfish is forked, and the head has 4 pairs and 8 barbels; the tail of the catfish is not forked, and the head has 2 pairs and 4 barbels. Their distribution is different, their feeding habits are different, and their nutrition is different. Everyone should pay attention to the differences and not confuse them with each other.