If I was to catch a channel catfish, and I wanted to keep it as a pet, would I need a permit?

Gee with all the personality a cat fish has...why would you even want one?

If you catch it from a pond on your own property it is allowed. I only keep native fish that I catch wild, but I usually target non-game species that are not regulated. I dont know what you have in virginia, but there are plenty of really colorful sunfish in Kansas that make great additions to the home aquarium. I personally think Longear sunfish, Lepomis megalotis, are prettier than most fish you can buy in a pet store.

Not allowed in VA. You can catch channel cats when fishing but VA has size limits on keeping them, then you cannot keep them captive- only to eat. If you want to keep a channel cat in a tank you mush get a permit from the state government and they only allow organizations like schools, zooz, aquariums, etc to have such permits- sorry. Check out your local branch of the Virginia department of game and inland fisheries or visit http://www.dgif.state.va.us/ for more details.

Do you have a tank that can house an adult fish that grows to 4ft? With so many other fish available I would get something else.

if you do, please make sure you don't put any other fish in the tank with the catfish as he will eat them

no

no