Spotted sea catfish
A tropical catfish found in Indo-Pacific waters
The spotted sea catfish is a species of sea catfish in the family Ariidae. It lives in tropical marine, brackish and fresh waters across the Indo-western Pacific. Males incubate eggs in their mouths. The fish supports commercial fisheries and its air bladders are used as isinglass.
- Males incubate eggs in their mouths
- Air bladders used as isinglass in wine
- Reaches a maximum length of 80 cm
- Found in marine, brackish and fresh water
What it is
This species belongs to the family Ariidae and is known as the spotted sea catfish. It grows to a maximum total length of 80 cm, though individuals more commonly reach 30 cm. The fish inhabits tropical environments including marine, brackish and fresh waters. It dwells at depths between 50 and 100 metres. Its body shape and habits align with other sea catfish found in warm coastal regions.
Where it lives
The spotted sea catfish is distributed across the Indo-western Pacific region. Its range includes the waters of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. This species adapts to various salinity levels, living in marine, brackish and freshwater systems. It is typically found at depths ranging from 50 to 100 metres below the surface.
How it lives
Its diet consists of detritus, polychaete worms, mollusks and various crustaceans. It also consumes milkfish larvae. This feeding behaviour allows it to thrive in diverse coastal and riverine habitats where such prey items are available. The fish is adapted to life in tropical waters across its geographic range.
Breeding and life cycle
Spawning occurs at different times depending on the location. On the coast of Mumbai, India, it takes place between January and April. Along the coast of Karnataka, spawning happens in September and October. Males incubate the eggs in their mouths. During this period, they may consume a small quantity of eggs to prevent starvation.
Fish and people
This catfish holds commercial interest for fisheries. It is primarily marketed and sold fresh. The air bladders of the fish are harvested for use in the wine industry as isinglass, a clarifying agent. This dual use of the flesh and internal organs makes it a valuable catch in local markets.
Questions people ask about Spotted sea catfish
Where does the spotted sea catfish live?
It inhabits tropical marine, brackish and freshwater environments in the Indo-western Pacific. Specific countries include Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. It dwells at depths between 50 and 100 metres.
What does the spotted sea catfish eat?
Its diet includes detritus, polychaete worms, mollusks and various crustaceans. It also feeds on milkfish larvae. This varied diet helps it survive in different coastal and riverine habitats.
How does the spotted sea catfish reproduce?
Males incubate the eggs in their mouths. Spawning occurs from January to April off Mumbai and from September to October off Karnataka. Males may eat a few eggs to avoid starvation during incubation.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Spotted sea catfish", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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