A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Catfish in a Barrel

I'm sure most here have seen this article before about growing catfish in a 55 gallon barrel, but just in case I'll post it again. I can't imagine it getting any more low tech than this. Talk about sustainable.... The skeptic in me says it really can't be this easy, but the newbie in me wants it to be true.

Anyone have first hand knowledge of whether this is practical? I've got plenty of worms and a garden. I just might try it.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by George T on February 25, 2011 at 8:54pm

The barrels would surely corrode over time and cause problems - Plastic barrels would solve that. So long as you're willing to do the water changes, it should work just fine, if you're disciplined about monitoring the water. I don't know how long the catfish would live on an all-worm diet.

Permalink Reply by B. Pearcy on February 25, 2011 at 9:03pm

I would definitely use the blue barrels. I think some shade woud definitely be a requirement as well.

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on February 25, 2011 at 9:46pm

while I'm all for low tech, I can't see growing catfish in a barrel the way I grow catfish. The poor things wouldn't be able to turn around!!!! Go for a 300 gallon stock tank instead. (I grow channel catfish and they easily get between 3 and 6 pounds in a year if you have them in a big enough tank.)

Permalink Reply by B. Pearcy on February 26, 2011 at 9:48am

I know you are right but I had a 96 gallon Toter taking up space and thought I would give it a try.

Permalink Reply by B. Pearcy on February 26, 2011 at 3:11pm

After spending the day mulling this idea over based on the feedback above, I think I've given up on this basic barrel idea. And it all sounded so do-able in the magazine article. Rats.

Permalink Reply by Sahib Punjabi on February 26, 2011 at 3:30pm

Now B. Pearcy Sir, you could always use the 96 gallon Toter to keep your channel catfish fingerlings so that you can stage your growth :-)

B. Pearcy said:

After spending the day mulling this idea over based on the feedback above, I think I've given up on this basic barrel idea. And it all sounded so do-able in the magazine article. Rats.

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on February 26, 2011 at 7:04pm

well the basic idea isn't so bad if you like eating really little catfish but ya know growing them in a IBC or 300-600 gallon stock tank is pretty doable too and hooking it up to some gravel beds makes it even better.