Articulated Blue Catfish

Native to the Mississippi River delta, the Blue Catfish has spread to many other waterways in the United States. It's an invasive species in the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, and Maryland waterways where it has become the dominant species. These slimy tanks can survive in a variety of water conditions and eat everything, allowing them to max out around 5 ft long and 140 lbs (the biggest catch of my life was a 45 lb blue catfish, but they can get so much bigger than that)! Their large numbers, wide range, and diverse diet make them very easy for anglers to catch. Like the Northern Snakehead, they're also targeted by bow fisherman in the summer when the warm deoxygenated water forces them up to the surface.

This model uses the same flexible scale units as the Snakehead (and fish pokemon models) allowing the model to “swim”. After printing, glue is added to the flat bottoms of the head, tail, and perimeter scales, the registration pin is inserted into the slot on the flat bottom of the head, and the two halves are pushed together. Taping the perimeter scales together while the glue dries is a great way to ensure they stay aligned in the final project.