HomeFreshwater aquarium fishCatfish & plecosBlue catfish Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) Scientific name: Ictalurus furcatus Valenciennes, 1840 The Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Ictaluridae. Native range: North America, Major rivers of the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio basins, south to Mexico and northern Guatemala. BiologyInhabits deep water of impoundments and main channels and backwaters of medium to large rivers, over mud, sand and gravel. Prefers clear, strongly flowing water. Marketed fresh and frozen. Eaten steamed, fried, broiled, microwaved and baked.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameIctalurus furcatusFamilyIctaluridae (North American freshwater catfishes)OrderSiluriformes (Catfish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length165Depth range50 m (164 ft)EnvironmentFreshwater; brackish; demersal; depth range 50 - ? mClimateSubtropicalDistributionNorth America: Major rivers of the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio basins, south to Mexico and northern Guatemala.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariumsResilienceLow, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tmax=21) More catfish & plecosPhilippine catfishClarias batrachusSuckermouth catfishHypostomus plecostomusChannel catfishIctalurus punctatusAmazon sailfin catfishPterygoplichthys pardalisAdolf's catfishCorydoras adolfoiCorydoras armatusSee all catfish & plecos SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026