A group of catfish is called a school, the same general term used for many freshwater and saltwater fish species that swim together in coordinated groups. Catfish are found on nearly every continent and range enormously in size, from small aquarium species to the massive Mekong giant catfish, but many species share a tendency to gather in numbers, especially around food sources or during spawning.

Unlike some schooling fish that move in tight, synchronized formations for predator defense, catfish schools tend to be looser and more opportunistic, often forming around a shared food source like a muddy riverbed or a baited fishing spot rather than staying together as a constant social unit. Catfish are bottom-dwellers by nature, using their trademark whisker-like barbels to feel and taste their way through murky water, which makes group feeding especially efficient when several fish work the same patch of bottom together.

While “school” is the standard term, catfish are occasionally referred to more broadly as part of a shoal, the general umbrella term for any group of fish swimming together, whether tightly coordinated or loosely gathered.