[okherp]

Most people don't think of catfish as being venomous, but their spines are armed with varying amounts of venom. In OK, the worst finning I got was from a 1 1/2 foot blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus). It barely grazed my hand while surveying the Washita River system and my hand went numb for over an hour. Many, if not all, species of catfish are at least mildly venomous. Especially in the Amazon and the ocean. In the Gulf of Mexico, there are two species of catfish to worry about, the hardhead and the gafftopsail. Both can be fatal if untreated.

This post has been edited by okherp: 15 December 2005 - 07:58 AM

[Duke]

You know when I saw the title it occured to me that most people do not think of them as venomouse but you are absolutely correct. I too got tagged by a catfish when I was a child in Arizona in some lake. It hurt like heck for about an hour and then slowly went away.

Thanks for posting this!!! You jogged my memory here!!!

[LongDucDong]

I had no idea that some species of catfish could potentially be fatal!!! :o Yowza! Thats pretty amazing!

I have caught several small catfish while fishing before and I usually end up cutting the line or using a long hook-out to remove the hook as I dont want to get stung. I have heard conflicting reports of where they actually sting. Is it behind the side fins or on the top fin (or both)? When I grew up everyone said the whiskers are what sting, but that is obviously not true as those house sensory things. Which is it?

[BrianS]

I can speak from experience that you dont want those side fins to get ya.

[haroldo359]

lol. i have had one of those experiences as well. it is true... it never occured to me either.

[okherp]

It is primarily the spines in the dorsal (top) and pectoral (side) fins. While working in the pet trade, the worst finning yet from an exotic was a paleatus cory!?! I think that's what it was. Any way, it was one of the cories and it STUNG, for a little while.

[Scott-Land]

The gafftopsail are very nice looking and fun to catch but like you said dangerous.I once caught a bass with a baby blue or bullhead in its gut with all 3 spines sticking out through ther bass I almost got poked but luckily I grabed in the right places it was very odd.

[furryscaly]

Yeah, Ive always got to tell people that they can't keep plecostomus (plecos/ "algae eaters") in with their amphibians or turtles cause they could get injured if they tangled with those spines. I'm not sure how venomous they are, but you could impale a frog on some of those things. I used to collect various catfish, mostly corydoras, plecostomus, and a few bullheads, but I stink at keeping fish.

[ShadowSpider]

I had no clue that cat fish were venomous...... I learned something today.

[OldHag]

I caught a Channel cat once and it flipped when I thought it would flop and its pectorial fin caught me on the knuckle of my right hand. The tip broke off in my bone!! OUCH!! My hand bled really bad for a while then I wasnt able to move my index finger (the barb stuck in my first knuckle, next to my hand) for over a month!. I have a big ole lump where some bone has grown over the peice stuck in my bone.

Im more careful when I catch them now...

[Daddyo72]

Many cats are venemous indeed. Plotosus lineatus-coral cats can be quite fatal.

I've got quite a few catfish at home and one thing to remember is that for most of them if you don't scare them or disturb their dens, your fine. Expecially in the daytime.

On a side note my Ameiurus natalis is well over a foot long and is hand fed. Gentile as a kitten......so long as I don't move his home........EVER.

[darrelldlc]

Especially in the Amazon and the ocean. In the Gulf of Mexico, there are two species of catfish to worry about, the hardhead and the gafftopsail. Both can be fatal if untreated.
[/quote]

I think there is another spp to be worried bout.... Lest we forget the Candiru? OUCH :o

[ReptileMan27]

I have been stung by them many times, it just hurts like heck from going into your skin. Great defence.

[lizard of Oz]

For north American species common to the United States, it is a simple matter to handle normal sized catfish properly avoiding those spines. The main thing is, not to try and compress them as you are handling the fish. hold them from behind and upright. It is possible that they can move around and still get you but if you handle them right you can avoid the business end.

[Dimebag]

I love the fact that their spines are poisonous great defense against fisherman. Never been hit myself

[JungleScorpion]

BrianS, on Dec 14 2005, 08:16 PM, said:

I can speak from experience that you dont want those side fins to get ya.

agreed, i love fishin for cats tho, we have massive ones here!

This post has been edited by JungleScorpion: 18 May 2007 - 07:42 AM

[troutspider66]

yum catfish fried chicken and cornbread watermelon yum yum

[JungleScorpion]

troutspider66, on May 18 2007, 02:06 PM, said:

yum catfish fried chicken and cornbread watermelon yum yum

got-dang im hungry!

[pandinus]

i had about a 300 lbs coworker once who got tagged on the back of the hand by a 2 foot tiger shovelnose. said it was the worst pain he'd ever been in. he almost passed out and was sick for a day or two after.

Does anyone know how venomous a redtail cat is? even if it only has a mild venom, i'm sure its size alone is more than enough to put you in a world of pain.


John

[Polistes]

There are very few catfish that can actually kill you fossilis is one type, the salt water ones also pack a heavy punch... Also the amout of venom delivered depends on how deep or long the spine is expose to the broken skin. Just touchingf the spine is not going to do anything, the chemicals must enter the blood stream.