What are “hybrid catfish”?
As the name suggests, hybrid catfish are a man-made crossbreed, growing three times faster than their natural counterparts and unable to reproduce on their own. However, these catfish have strong disease resistance, can tolerate low oxygen levels and cold temperatures, and are particularly voracious and easy to catch.
One could say that the advantages of farmed catfish are that they are easy to raise, grow quickly, and of course, fetch a higher price due to their larger size!
However, the biggest drawback of hybrid catfish is that they tend to be fatty, large, and have a higher meat yield, but the meat is of inferior quality and less tasty than natural catfish. So, here are three ways to choose catfish that will help you select high-quality fish and avoid buying hybrids.
1. Buy smaller catfish and avoid larger ones
As we know, hybrid catfish can grow between 1.5 to 3 times the size of natural catfish each year. Therefore, when choosing catfish, we must select those that are not overly large! Smaller catfish are typically wild.
2. Count the lateral line scales
As we know, natural catfish are more expensive, while farmed ones are cheaper! Don’t worry, there’s a clever way to tell the difference—by counting the scales on the catfish’s lateral line.
Since natural and farmed catfish are different species, the number of scales on their lateral line differs; natural catfish have 28 scales, while hybrids have 32.
Tip: The lateral line is a special sense organ on the catfish that can be seen from both sides of the body. It is usually a line formed by a series of small holes and is mainly used for the catfish’s perception of water pressure, the direction and speed of water flow, and the location of objects in the water.
3. Examine the roe
As mentioned earlier, hybrid catfish are incapable of reproduction, so they do not have roe, whereas wild catfish do. Therefore, to distinguish between hybrid and wild catfish, simply check if there is roe in their bellies! This is a tell-tale sign that cannot be faked! So, when buying catfish in the future, first stand aside and observe others purchasing catfish. When you see the fish being gutted, the presence of roe indicates it is wild! If there is no roe and there are 32 lateral line scales, it is a hybrid.
According to Conglyxahoi
