The catfish has three fins—a dorsal fin on top, and two pectoral fins on either side on the body. On the front of each fin is a very sharp stinger filled with venomous toxins. A sting occurs when this barb penetrates your skin.
Where is the venom in a catfish?
Catfish venom glands are found alongside sharp, bony spines on the edges of the dorsal and pectoral fins, and these spines can be locked into place when the catfish is threatened. When a spine jabs a potential predator, the membrane surrounding the venom gland cells is torn, releasing venom into the wound.
How toxic are catfish?
The toxic catfish of North America have relatively mild venom, which in humans would cause about the same amount of pain as a bee sting, Wright said. Some species, including the popular flathead catfish, aren’t poisonous at all. Furthermore, catfish venom is “strictly defensive,” Wright said.
Can you get sick from a catfish sting?
However, the most serious complications of catfish stings in humans involve bacterial superinfections. Waterborne organisms such as Vibrio species for saltwater infections and Aeromonas for freshwater infections have been isolated from sting wounds and have been commonly reported [2, 3].
Is sea catfish good to eat?
In terms of taste, freshwater catfish have a mild and unbriny taste while saltwater fish have a “saltier” taste. This is because saltwater catfish tend to retain more salt. Either way, both species are worth eating and it’s all up to personal preference!
Do saltwater catfish have venom?
The sting of a catfish, whether a Florida saltwater catfish or one of many other species, is something you do not want to ignore. It is venomous and can lead to a serious infection. Before you head out on the water, make sure to take the proper safety precautions to minimize the risk of getting stung.
Are saltwater catfish spines poisonous?
Catfish skin toxin and the venom from their dorsal and pectoral spines may cause a menacing sting. Although these stings are often innocuous, severe tissue necrosis may occur.
What to do if you get stung by a catfish?
Catfish Sting Treatment
- Soaking the affected area in water as hot as is tolerable usually relieves pain from a sting.
- Spines should be removed with tweezers.
- The wound should be scrubbed and irrigated with fresh water.
- The wound should not be taped or sewn together.
- You may need a tetanus shot.
What is the most venomous catfish?
Candiru. The candiru, (Vandellia cirrhosa), is a scaleless, parasitic catfish of the family Trichomycteridae found in the Amazon River region. It is translucent and eellike, and it grows to a length of about 2.5 cm (1 inch). The candiru feeds on blood and is commonly found in the gill cavities of other fishes.
What species of catfish are poisonous?
The freshwater catfish are siluriform fish common in rivers and lakes. There are various venomous genders and species, as the South American Pimelodus and Pimelodella genders and the North- American Ictalurus and Noturus genders.
Can you get infection from catfish?
However, the most serious complications of catfish stings in humans involve bacterial superinfections. Waterborne organisms such as Vibrio species for saltwater infections and Aeromonas for freshwater infections have been isolated from sting wounds and have been commonly reported [2,3].
How long does catfish sting last?
3,4,14,15 Punctures caused by catfish are al- ways painful to some degree, but when the sting deposits venom, the pain is intense and can persist for up to 6 hours.
What happens if you get spiked by a catfish?
The wound should be scrubbed and irrigated with fresh water. The wound should not be taped or sewn together. Oral antibiotics are usually recommended for catfish stings that become infected. Antibiotics should be taken if an infection develops for at least five days after all signs of infection have resolved.
Is there a limit on saltwater catfish in Florida?
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Atlantic and Gulf – 5 per person aggregate of the two species. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Atlantic – 10 per harvester • Gulf – 1 per harvester. Remarks • Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528 or hmspermits.noaa.gov.
Do fresh water catfish have barbs?
It’s not a sting you need to worry about. It’s the dorsal and pectoral fins of the catfish. Both fins have sharp spines on them. In fact, the spines are sharp enough to pierce human flesh.
What eats saltwater catfish?
Catfish are eaten by sharks, cobia and other large fin fish.
Where are the barbs on a catfish?
Locate the fin spines.
All species of catfish have small, pointed spines emerging from the front edge of the dorsal fin (the one on the back) and pectoral fins (the ones just behind and on either side of the head). For this reason, you’ll want to keep your hands away from the front of the fins at all times.
Can you touch catfish whiskers?
Their whiskers may look scary, but they’re harmless! That doesn’t mean that catfish can’t hurt you while you’re handling them–they certainly can and will–but it’s not their whiskers that are a threat. Instead, it’s their nasty pectoral and dorsal fins that you need to worry about.
Do all catfish have poisonous barbs?
Catfish have sharp spines on the edges of their pectoral and dorsal fins. These can cause mechanical injury to handlers, resulting in inflammation, possible infection, and severe pain. While these spines are non-venomous in some catfish, there are more than 1,600 species that do possess venom glands.
How do you know if the fish is poisonous?
How to tell if a fish is toxic or poisonous
- Most live in shallow water around reefs or lagoons.
- Many have boxy or round bodies with hard shell-like skins covered with bony plates or spines.
- Many have small parrotlike mouths, small gills, and small or absent belly fins. Their names often suggest their shape.
What saltwater fish are poisonous?
Let’s take a closer look at four common marine fish families that contain toxic fish that aquarists need to beware of:
- Scorpionfishes (Family Scorpaenidae)
- Boxfishes (Family Ostraciidae)
- Pufferfishes (Family Tetraodontidae)
- Squirrelfishes (Family Holocentridae)