Walking catfish

Walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) is a freshwater, brackish species recorded in Singapore.

Scientific name: Clarias batrachus · Water: Freshwater, Brackish

Size: 15–40 cm

Weight: 0.1–1.5 kg

About

The walking catfish is a common bottom-dwelling catfish in Singapore's reservoirs that can breathe air and even shuffle short distances over land. Its native range is Java in Indonesia, the populations of Indochina and Sundaland once identified as this species being close relatives instead, and it has been introduced elsewhere. It hunts largely by smell, so slow-dragged soft plastics and strong-smelling baits near inflow and outflow pipes work best. Catchable all year, most active around dawn.

Ecology and habitat

Water layer
Bottom-dwelling
Trophic level
3.4

Fishery and market

Resilience
High

Angling traits

Methods

Sources

Back to home · Singapore · Species library