My channel catfish, which I recently caught, won't eat. Is there any way to get...

[Adam W]

...it to eat the fish food? I caught the fish in freshwater harbour with pieces of frozen corn. Will the fish die if it doesn't start eating right away? I purchased shrimp tablets for bottom feeders, but he doesn't seem to be interested. Is this because he just isn't used to that kind of food? Hopefully when he gets hungry enough, he'll start to dig around and learn to like the shrimp pellets.

[hitmeagaindude]

What are you trying to keep it in?
Catfish have poor eyesight and often eat at night so they rely on their other senses to find food and shelter. Because they are natural scavengers, you might try meaty foods (I actually buy fish - make sure nothing has been added - at the grocery for my puffer & wrasse to add variety) and buy some catfish bait at first on it to give it a strong odor to attract the fish. You should also try to provide hollow logs and or rocks for it to hide in.

[Fishy]

You should buy it some catfish bait like crayfish and chicken blood you can find it in the fishing section at walmart they love it.

[rockstarbeau7]

Try bread. We have channel cats and albino cats in our ponds (large 1 acre each ponds) besides what they eat in the ponds, they love bread! Then once he has gotten used to his new environment, try the shrimp pellets. For most fish though, bread is like a comfort food. We even have bass who will eat the bread!

[oscar lova]

how big is he? because in the wild e doesnt eat corn and shrimp pellets try some feeder fish from your local pet store (not walmart) but whatever will fit in his mouth he will eat it so try some feeder fish but not bigger than his mouth or go to a pond or where you caught him and get a dip net and where ever you see tadpoles minnows etc. catch those and take those to him he might eat those. you just have to try different foods you never know what those fish eat out in the wild

[bluemaster555]

beware this fish can grow up to 52 inches,it will outgrow almost any tank fast,feed him all kind of sinking catfish food.

[guiltychopstick]

one thing u need to understand is that CATFISH are nocturnal. (he will only come out and eat at night) try putting some food in there right before u go to bed and turn the lights out. and see if there is any food left in the morning.