Hong Kong catfish (Clarias fuscus) is a freshwater species recorded in Hong Kong, Taiwan. It is found at depths of ≥ 3 m. The main season in Hong Kong, Taiwan runs all year.
Scientific name: Clarias fuscus · Water: Freshwater · Season: All year
Size: up to 24.5 cm
The Hong Kong catfish has a broad flat head and several pairs of barbels. It breathes air facultatively, which lets it tolerate foul, low-oxygen water and even crawl over land for short distances. It lives in streams, ponds, ditches and reservoirs, prefers deeper pools, hides under thick mats of vegetation, and feeds at night on small fish, worms, crustaceans and insects as a bottom-dwelling species. It is the fish behind Taiwan's night-market medicinal stewed catfish, with both farmed and wild populations abundant there, and Taiwanese anglers work bottom rigs with earthworm, chicken liver or fish flesh at night along channels and wild ponds. It reaches about 24.5 cm standard length, is present all year, and IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
Caution: has venomous spines. Take great care when unhooking and handling; the sting is extremely painful.
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