Does anyone have a source for Albino or White Channel Catfish in the Southeast US. I had a few may years ago in an aquarium. I thought it would be nice to have them in my pond. I may have waited to long since the fish in the pond now have grown significantly.
Patches on your jacket don't buy you experience, you gotta fish!
Try calling the local fish farms in your areas that sell CC. If they sell normal colored ones, they may also have albino ones. Or check your local pet store, but be prepared to pay a bit more.
I found a source for Albino CC here in Florida. Actually fairly close. Eight inch for $50.00 per 100. I figure they will have a better chance of survival being on the larger size.
Patches on your jacket don't buy you experience, you gotta fish!
White catfish are different than albino catfish. Albino catfish are mutants of channel catfish, and except for being albino, they have the same charateristics as channel catfish.
White catfish have somewhat different head and body shapes, and they don't get as large as channel cats. They originally come from rivers feeding the US eastern seaboard and the gulf coast.
I have both white catfish and channel catfish in my pond -- something that was pointed out to me by CJBS.
I see the reference to white catfish was from my orginal post. I did some research myself and found out that white catfish are not white. "Description The sides are blue-gray to blue-black and may be mottled. The tail is moderately forked, and the anal fin is shorter and rounder than that of channel or blue catfish. Whites have only 19-22 anal fin rays. The chin barbels are white or yellow. They have a blunt, more-rounded head, and lack black spots on their body."
I got Albino Catfish which is in fact what I wanted. Sure glad I did not make the mistake and get the white.
Patches on your jacket don't buy you experience, you gotta fish!
What species are present in your lake when you stocked your albino CC? They appear to be in the 8" range? Hopefully you don't have any overly large predators as you will have just wasted $50 as fish love to eat small albino CC. If you can, you may want to see if your supplier can get you some larger albino CC say in the 12"+ size. They will have a much higher survival rate and return for the money. I've had a hard time finding larger stocker albino CC so I will buy a few smaller ones and raise them in an aquarium or small outdoor pond for a few months to get them to the 14-16" range which one high quality feed doesn't take long before I release them into predator filled waters...
I had 1 albino cat included with mine when I stocked them. I have yet to see it so I hope it made it.
I figure I will leave it in even if we happen to catch it.
At least when it does get bigger and I figure how to clear my water, the kids will be able to see it swim around in the pond and will be easy to spot when it feeds.
It would be tough to find an albino wels catfish dealer in the US! HAHA That thing is a beast... Many fish farms that sell CC also sell albino ones as well. They may not have them listed on their website. Calling should clear that up though.
Tonight I started seeing my Albino Catfish. I stocked last Oct 15. They are now 12 to 14 inches long. I am unsure how many survied, but I am happy with the results.
Patches on your jacket don't buy you experience, you gotta fish!
