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   Clarias batrachus (fish)    
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         General Impact

    Clarias batrachus in South Florida are known to invade commercial aquaculture facilities, often consuming vast numbers of the stocks of fishes (Robins, undated). The impacts from this opportunist feeder are probably most pronounced in small, isolated wetland ponds where walking catfish quickly consume or outcompete other resident populations to become the dominant species in the pond. Resident centrarchids (freshwater sunfish) and native catfish species appear particularly susceptible to impacts from this invader (Masterson, 2007). C. batrachus can also negatively impact native amphibian populations by preying on tadpoles. The ability of walking catfish to exploit isolated, ephemeral water bodies allows them to access tadpole prey stocks that other fish cannot reach (Masterson, 2007).



         Location Specific Impacts:
    Philippines English 
    Competition: Clarias batrachus has have dominated locations of inhabitance and displaced the native catfish (Clarias macrocephalus) in Luzon, Philippines and has spread throughout many other parts of the country (Joshi, undated; Sinohin & Cauterno, 2002).
    Sri Lanka English 
    Competition: Clarias batrachus threatens endemic fresh water fishes in Sri Lanka (Kotagma & Bambaradeniya, 2006).
    Florida (USA) (United States (USA)) English 
    Competition: Clarias batrachus will outcompete or directly consume several co-occurring native species in Florida. Resident centrarchids, freshwater sunfish, and native catfish species appear particularly susceptible to impacts from this invader. C. batrachus can also negatively impact native amphibian populations by preying on tadpoles (Masterson, 2007).

    Economic/Livelihoods: Clarias batrachus in South Florida are known to invade commercial aquaculture facilities, often consuming vast numbers of the stocks of fishes (Robins, undated).



ISSG Landcare Research NBII IUCN University of Auckland