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Federal restrictions applyWalking catfish
Clarias batrachus
Fishes › Catfish (Siluriformes) › Clariidae (Air-breathing catfish)
The walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) is a species of freshwater airbreathing catfish native to Southeast Asia.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 42 in long and 21 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 10.3 in / 26.25 cm; the largest recorded was 18.5 in).
- Water: Freshwater (tolerates brackish).
- Temperature: 50–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
- Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Warnings
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 83 × 47 in (roughly 599 US gallons); space needed is rated “very large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 68–79 °F, pH 5.5–8, 2–25 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament predatory.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Floor space is more important than depth with this species.”
- Diet: “A greedy and omnivorous species that will eat almost anything offered.”
- Breeding: “Has been achieved in huge numbers on fish farms throughout the world, but occurs less often in aquaria.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Air-breathing catfish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Clarias use rivers, flood pools and swamps, whereas the listed Bathyclarias are Lake Malawi endemics including deep-water bottom predators (walking, malawi). Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For adult C. batrachus the keeper reference specifies 210 × 120 × 90 cm, approximately 2,268 L; prioritize floor area (walking).
- Secure every lid opening against terrestrial escapes by Clarias (walking).
- Provide soft substrate and smooth rocks, wood or pipe refuges for Clarias (walking).
- Keep the surface accessible for Clarias air breathing (walking).
- Use established biological filtration and monitor ammonia and nitrite (fish_water).
Diet
- Clarias: formulated pellets (walking).
- Clarias: varied meaty frozen foods and vegetable matter (walking).
- Bathyclarias foveolatus: fish prey; formulate a species-specific piscivore ration with a specialist (malawi).
Social life
- Clarias swallow smaller fish; only robust, similarly sized companions are candidates, and breeding pairs require separation from other fish (walking).
Health watch
- Ammonia toxicity from inadequate biofiltration (fish_health).
- Parasitic skin and gill infections (fish_health).
- Nutritional deficiencies from unsuitable diets (fish_health).
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is named for its ability to "walk" and wiggle across dry land, to find food or suitable environments. While it does not truly walk as most bipeds or quadrupeds do, it can use its pectoral fins to keep it upright as it makes a wiggling motion with snakelike movements to traverse land.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Walking catfish” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater and brackish water, in lakes, rice paddies. Stays near the bottom. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater / brackish water, 50–82 °F (10–28 °C). |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Hunting macrofauna (predator). |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: nesters. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 50–82 °F.
- It tolerates or needs brackish water; check salinity needs before setup.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 92°F (up to 98°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 63°F (down to 51°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 73–82°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 72–80% on average (driest month about 65%) |
| Rainfall | about 1964 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons |
Measured at 173 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) is a species of freshwater airbreathing catfish native to Southeast Asia. It is named for its ability to "walk" and wiggle across dry land, to find food or suitable environments. While it does not truly walk as most bipeds or quadrupeds do, it can use its pectoral fins to keep it upright as it makes a wiggling motion with snakelike movements to traverse land. This fish normally lives in slow-moving and often stagnant waters in ponds, swamps, streams, and rivers, as well as in flooded rice paddies, or temporary pools that may dry up. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Wild diet | In the wild, this creature is omnivorous; it feeds on smaller fish, molluscs, and other invertebrates, as well as detritus and aquatic weeds. It is a voracious eater that consumes food supplies rapidly, so it is considered harmful when invasive. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Behavior | Clarias batrachus is a solitary fish, but it can cohabitate with other species. — Animal Diversity Web |
| Reproduction | The pair manifests the 'spawning embrace' which is widely observed in other catfish species. The pair gently nudge each other in the genital region and flick their dorsal fins; male wraps his body around the female, then the female releases a stream of adhesive eggs into the nest. — FishBase |
| Lifespan | The lifespan of the walking catfish has not been reported. — Animal Diversity Web |
| Appearance and size | Maximum length 47.0 cm tl male/unsexed; maximum published weight 1.2 kg. — FishBase |
| Biology | Facultative air-breathing; Adults inhabit lowland streams, swamps, ponds, ditches, rice paddies, and pools left in low spots after rivers have been in flood (, 57235 ). Usually confined to stagnant, muddy water. Found in medium to large-sized rivers, flooded fields and stagnant water bodies including sluggish flowing canals. — FishBase |
| History and naming | The walking catfish is a tropical species native to maritime Southeast Asia. The native range of true Clarias batrachus is confirmed only from the Indonesian island of Java, but three closely related and more widespread species frequently have often been confused with this species. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Typical adult weight
Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).
Adult length
Common length to maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 83 × 47 in (about 599 US gallons).
Veterinary & husbandry research
Veterinary & husbandry research
- DNA barcoding of commercially important catfishes in the Philippines Quilang JP et al., Mitochondrial DNA 2015
- Eichhornia crassipes mediated copper phytoremediation and its success using catfish bioassay Goswami S et al., Chemosphere 2018
- Investigations of hemato-biochemical and histopathological parameters, and growth performance of walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) exposed to PET and LDPE microplastics Fatema K et al., Environmental toxicology and pharmacology 2023
- Microsatellite Genotyping Corroborated Loss of Genetic Diversity in Clarias batrachus as a Result of Lack of Regulatory Reforms in Aquaculture Tiknaik A et al., Biochemical genetics 2020
Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. See all 21 on PubMed → 170
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- 50 CFR Part 16: Injurious wildlife (Lacey Act) Zoo, university or veterinaryCurrent federal regulation, read from eCFR.
- U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers v. Zinke (D.C. Cir. 2017) Zoo, university or veterinaryAppeals ruling that the Lacey Act's shipping ban does not cover moves between the continental states.
- Seriously Fish: Clarias batrachus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Lake Malawi noncichlid reference: Bathyclarias foveolatus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Checklist of the Noncichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- USFWS: North African Catfish Ecological Risk Screening Summary Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of Aquarium Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.