Clarias batrachusWalking Catfish
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Max length
245mm SL10in SL
The walking catfish, Clarias batrachus, is a large air-breathing catfish. In the strict sense it is known only from Java, and the walking catfishes of mainland Asia belong to other species. It can move across land on its stiff pectoral spines provided it stays damp, so a tightly fitting cover is essential. Walking catfishes are highly predatory and tolerate a very wide range of conditions, and they have become pests in several countries where they were introduced for farming, most notably the southern US. Most fish in the trade are albino or leucistic aquarium variants.