What Your Catfish Really Want

Imagine for a moment that your catfish could talk. What do you think they would ask for?

More feed? Cleaner water? A little extra space so they aren’t constantly bumping into each other? The truth is, your catfish probably want all these things — and a few you might never have considered.

When we think about fish farming, it’s easy to focus only on numbers: stocking densities, feed conversion ratios, final weights, and profits. But beneath those metrics are living creatures with simple, powerful drives that determine whether they thrive or merely survive in your pond.

Understanding what your catfish truly want isn’t just about empathy. It’s about unlocking faster growth, better feed efficiency, stronger immunity, and ultimately, bigger returns on your investment. When you learn to see your pond from the catfish’s point of view, you move beyond routine farming into truly smart aquaculture — where each decision you make is guided by what keeps your fish healthiest and most productive.

In this guide, you’ll explore what your catfish are silently telling you every day. From the oxygen in their water to the quality of the feed you give them, the stability of their environment, and even how gently you handle them, every small detail adds up. When you start paying attention to these hidden needs, you’ll not only produce bigger, healthier fish — you’ll build a more resilient, profitable farm.

Seeing the World Like a Catfish

Real insight begins by stepping outside yourself and trying to view the world from the other’s perspective.

So, what if you did this with your catfish?

Try to see your pond the way they do.

They don’t care about your investment costs, or your target harvest weight. They care about:

• Having enough space so they aren’t constantly jostled or biting each other.
• A stable environment with the right oxygen, temperature, and pH so their bodies work efficiently.
• Access to high-quality, easily digestible feed.
• Minimal fear. No frequent netting, chasing, or sudden changes.

When these needs are met, their bodies can do what they are biologically programmed to do: convert feed into muscle quickly.

1. They Want Oxygen Before Anything Else

A catfish is an aquatic animal that relies on dissolved oxygen (DO) in water, just as we rely on oxygen in the air. Oxygen is often the single most limiting factor in Nigerian ponds, especially during the dry season when temperatures soar.

When oxygen drops below about 4 mg/L, catfish begin to feel stressed. Below 2 mg/L, they struggle to breathe, become lethargic, and stop eating. Prolonged exposure leads to mass mortalities.

Unlike feed, which you can always add more of tomorrow, low oxygen can kill fish in a matter of hours.

How to give them what they want:

Avoid overstocking. Too many fish means more oxygen demand.

Install or improvise aeration. Simple paddle wheels or even surface agitators made from locally available materials can dramatically boost DO levels.

Monitor closely during hot afternoons and early mornings. Oxygen crashes often happen then.

Keep pond water free from excessive organic waste, like uneaten feed or decaying vegetation, which uses up oxygen as it decomposes.

2. They Want Consistent, High-Quality Feed

Feeding is where the bulk of your investment goes, often accounting for over 70% of total operational costs. Yet many farmers still cut corners on feed, underestimating how it directly affects growth rates and survival.

A catfish’s digestive system is adapted to high-protein diets. They want feed that is:

• Palatable so they eat quickly, reducing waste.
• Nutritionally dense, ideally with crude protein levels of at least 35-42% for juveniles.
• Fresh, because old feed loses nutrients and can harbor mold toxins that damage liver and kidney function.

What happens when you use poor feed?

Catfish will still eat, but their growth slows. They convert feed inefficiently (FCRs rise), and you end up spending more to achieve the same final weight — or worse, failing to reach it at all.

Give them what they want by:

• Buying from reputable feed mills like Grand Cereals or Topfeeds.
• If compounding your own, rigorously following proven formulations and ensuring proper pellet size and texture for each growth stage.
• Feeding on a schedule, so catfish come to expect food, reducing frantic competition and injury.

3. They Want Space and Structure

We often hear “fish grow to the size of their pond.” That’s only partially true. What your catfish truly want is a pond environment that minimizes chronic stress.

In overly crowded ponds:

• Fish constantly brush against each other, causing scale loss and minor wounds that open doors to infections.
• Waste accumulates faster, degrading water quality.
• Aggression rises. Dominant fish monopolize feed, while weaker fish become stunted.

Yet ponds that are too sparse aren’t economically viable. The goal is optimal stocking.

Nigerian benchmarks suggest:

• Juveniles (5-10 g): ~100-150 fish/m³ in concrete tanks.
• Grow-outs (100 g and above): ~10-20 fish/m² in earthen ponds.

Adding simple structures like submerged pipes or bamboo bundles can reduce stress by mimicking natural hiding spots. It makes your fish feel safer — yes, just like how we feel more secure in a well-laid out home.

4. They Want a Stable, Predictable Environment

Sudden shocks are bad for fish.

Frequent, sharp changes in:

• Temperature
• Water level
• pH (should ideally stay between 6.5 and 8.5)
• Handling (netting, sorting, grading)

all elevate stress hormones like cortisol, which reduce immunity and feed conversion efficiency.

Practical steps:

Avoid drastic water exchanges; change 10-20% gradually if needed.

Test pH weekly. If too low, lime your ponds (with agricultural lime, not construction lime).

Net fish gently, minimize handling days.

5. They Want You to Watch Closely — But Not Disturb

Farmers sometimes confuse “active management” with constantly poking and prodding their fish. What catfish really want is for you to observe quietly and intervene only when needed.

Spend a few minutes daily at your pond:

• Watch how quickly they come to feed. Slow, sluggish feeding is an early warning sign.
• Check for uneaten feed, floating fish, or unusual color changes.
• Notice water clarity and smell. Sharp or rotten odors usually mean rising ammonia.

This mindful observation is your best diagnostic tool — far more effective than only reacting after you start seeing dead fish.

Final Thoughts: What Your Catfish Want is Also What You Want

Healthy catfish that grow quickly, resist disease, and convert feed efficiently are the very foundation of your business success.

What your catfish really want is simple:

• Clean, oxygen-rich water
• Plenty of high-quality feed
• Room to grow without constant stress
• A stable, predictable environment
• A farmer who notices small problems before they become big ones

In other words, they want the same things that most living creatures — including us — thrive on.