Catfish Lovers Beware The Shocking Truth Behind Their Diet

---

 
THOSE who enjoy the Malay cuisine will undoubtedly come across the delectable catfish, either cooked in curry or deep fried and laddled with spicy sambal.
But behind this mouth-watering dish is a frightful truth. Catfish are opportunistic feeders, or more politely put, omnivores. Which means they will eat about anything, including dead bodies and animal carcasses. 
And that said, catfish breeders are more than happy to feed them decaying carcasses to keep cost at a minimum. 
A recent video post on X by netizen @mhmmdhsm highlights this fact in stark detail. In the video, the fishes could be seen feasting on a block of decaying meat.
Bird feet could be seen sticking out of it, suggesting that perhaps it was made of dead poultry being pressed together to form a block for easy transportation.
Then there is also a dead cow submerged in the pond, likely for the catfishes to feed on later.
People who enjoy eating catfish, cooked in any shape or form will have to note this. Eating catfish equals eating carrion.
But ignorance is bliss if you have no idea about it. Sadly, this video is not the only instance where catfishes were seen consuming dirty things.
According to the website Lima Feed Machine, some farmers incorporate pig and chicken manure into catfish farming practices as part of the feeding process.
However, this does not mean that raw animal waste is directly introduced into fish ponds. Animal feces typically contain harmful pathogens and parasites, which pose serious risks to the health and safety of the fish.
To mitigate this, the manure undergoes a fermentation process before use. This treatment helps eliminate harmful substances and significantly reduces health hazards.
As a result, it is not uncommon for catfish and certain other fish species to consume feed derived from fermented animal waste.
The key point is that proper fermentation is a critical step in making such practices safe and effective in aquaculture.
Long story short, catfish is not dirty. They are merely adapted to eat such substances. However, the thought of them eating waste and carcasses certainly make for a terrible thought for those looking to feast on their flesh. — Focus Malaysia

---