lautnusantara.com Although extensively cultured in ornamental fish fattening units in Thailand and Europe, the yellow catfish (Horabagrus brachysoma) has largely escaped the attention of culturists in its native countries. Widely known as the golden red-tailed catfish, this species is endemic to the inland waters of two southern Indian states: Kerala and Karnataka. The majority of its population is scattered across the rivers, estuaries, associated wetlands, and paddy fields of Kerala.

A small-scale fishery for this species has been operating for the past few decades in the vast Vembanad Lake and its surrounding waters in Kerala. Here, catfish ranging from 160 to 300 mm are caught and marketed alive as food fish. More recently, the brightly colored juveniles of this catfish have gained international attention as ornamental fish. They are now traded on a large scale in Southeast Asia and Europe.

Hatchery Breeding

Pioneering research conducted by scientists at the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, in collaboration with the Regional Agricultural Research Station at the Kerala Agricultural University, has led to the development of hatchery breeding technology for the yellow catfish. The species has also been induced to breed on a large scale in Thailand by hobbyists using pituitary gland extracts. A few entrepreneurs are now producing yellow catfish fingerlings in Kerala to meet the demands of the international trade.

Maintenance and Farming

Studies conducted by the author at the aquaculture laboratory of St. Albert's College in Kochi, Kerala, India, indicate that managing the yellow catfish in captivity is not difficult. The fish tends to be shy during the day, so it's essential to provide plenty of hiding spots, such as driftwood, PVC pipes, or other suitable materials for shelter. Fry, fingerlings, and juveniles are active and schooling, while larger adult fish are generally more lethargic and appear to be solitary.

The yellow catfish is hardy and tolerant of a wide range of water quality conditions. Fingerlings respond well to water with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5, low or medium hardness, and a temperature of 26 to 28 degrees Celsius. During laboratory trials, the authors observed that growth and feeding responses were higher in rearing water with a salinity of 5 ppt.

Feeding Strategy

The yellow catfish's diet in the wild consists of crustaceans, fish, and benthic organisms. Studies on the feeding behavior and growth response of the fish show that juveniles respond well to both natural and artificial feeds and achieve good growth. The fish can generally be classified as a piscivorous predator, as the highest growth was achieved in juveniles fed with live tilapia fry as prey. This behavior has also been observed by hobbyists who keep yellow catfish in home aquariums.

Semi-moist diets prepared using fish and shrimp meat resulted in higher feeding and growth responses compared to commercial or laboratory-made pellets. The author's laboratory results also indicate that feed palatability—in terms of texture, size, and shape—is a crucial factor affecting feed intake and subsequent growth. Current trials are underway to determine the digestibility of locally available ingredients by fry and fingerlings, as well as to establish the protein requirements of the species for the development of a formulated pelleted feed.

Commercial Prospects

Given the high market demand, both locally and internationally, there appears to be significant potential for the commercialization of yellow catfish seed production and culture technology in Kerala. Two culture systems can be developed: an extensive system to produce large-sized adults weighing over 200 grams for the local food market, and an intensive system for the fattening and value addition of fingerlings and juveniles for the increasingly competitive global ornamental fish trade.

Large earthen ponds, small household ponds, coconut canals and polders, and fish-in-paddy-field culture systems—all of which are available in large areas in Kerala—would be ideal for producing table-sized fish. Small floating cages made from local and inexpensive materials could also be used.

The yellow catfish is suitable for both monoculture and polyculture. Native barbs and cichlids of a similar size can be reared with yellow catfish in ponds or cages. Some candidate species include Labeo dussumieri, Puntius sarana, and Etroplus suratensis, which are widely sought-after local food fish.

Based on its euryphagous feeding habits, H. brachysoma is also suitable for integration into the region's integrated farming systems. Another interesting proposition is to use the yellow catfish in a predator-prey culture system with tilapia or other weed fish as a forage species.

The international ornamental fish industry requires brightly colored juveniles measuring 3.8 to 5 cm in length. Intensive and vertically integrated ornamental fish rearing units consisting of broodstock ponds, a seed production center, and juvenile and fry rearing units complete with transportation and marketing facilities can be established to supply fish seed to the international market. Furthermore, small-scale household systems can also manage the production of these catfish to supply seed to both food and ornamental production systems.

The increasing demand for the yellow catfish could be the impetus for establishing commercial culture systems in Kerala. The attention of both government agencies and entrepreneurs is needed to develop the culture of this species, which can create employment opportunities in the region's rural communities, in addition to generating valuable foreign exchange for the country.

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