Catfish are a cool fish that many people like to keep in ponds. If you have a backyard pond, you may like the idea of raising catfish in it. This can be a fun, rewarding experience, but there are some important things to know to make sure you take care of them properly.
Just be sure your pond is clean and the water is the proper temperature. Catfish enjoy calm water, and so your pond should be not too choppy. You can even throow in some plants or rocks for them to cower behind.
Feed your catfish Feeding is regular maintenance for a properly established catfish population. Worms, insects, and special fish food are some of what the catfish like to eat. You don’t want to feed them too much food because that can dirty the water. Check the water quality regularly to ensure it's safe for your catfish.
When introducing catfish to your pond, don’t go overboard with the number you add at once. Catfish require space to swim and grow. Begin with a few, then hang more once they develop. For feeding catfish, make sure you do it consistently each day at approximately the same time. That helps them anticipate when they will get food, a benefit that can help them to grow better and to remain healthy.
Once your catfish are large enough, you can catch them and eat them or sell them. When you take this step, do be cautious and kind. You can scoop them out with a net or drain the pond to catch them all at once. And if you want to sell them, make sure you have a place to sell them first.
There can be some drawbacks to having your own catfish pond. One problem is predators, such as birds, attempting to eat catfish. To prevent this, you can either cover your pond with a net or put a couple of floating things for them to hide under. You could also be dealing with water quality or sick catfish problems. Keep the water clean, and address any sick catfish promptly.
