...................................Bullhead
Other names:...........Black Bullhead, Horned Pout Origin:......................Widespread through North America Max size:..................16" PH:............-..............6.8-7.2 Temperature:...........50-75 F. Min tank size:..........55 gallons Food:.........................live foods, flakes, pellets |
The bullhead is a North American species of robust catfish found
throughout the mid-eastern United States. It has been introduced
elsewhere. They are quite popular as gamefish, both for their game,
and excellent palatability.
The black bullhead is a broad-headed powerful catfish which is a
mottled black-brown to vanilla-yellow. The whiskers are long, and
the nostril whiskers look like horns. All the fins are rounded, the
pectorals and dorsal contain a sharp and dangerous spine.
In order to have one you have to catch it. Fry are easy to collect
with a dip-net, larger bullheads are best caught with a killie trap
baited with meat and left overnight in shallow water. Avoid handling
them with bare hands as their fin-spines can inflict a painful sting.
All bullheads are easy to keep and adapt well to captivity. As long
as there is space and plenty of food, a bullhead will thrive for many
years in your aquarium. They grow fast. Water conditions are unimportant
but this is not a reason to neglect the quality. Bullheads prefer neutral
water with a temperature between 60 and 82 degrees F. Since they are nocturnal give them a "lights out" period everyday. They will eat
anything from cucumber slices to live fish. They are useful as scavengers,
but they require their own share of food as well. They are excellent
companions with any fish that is fairly peaceful and won't fit into their
mouths. They look great with other native gamefish. Like all native fish
they are best released where found the next season.
Breeding is accomplished in ponds and other large bodies of water.
There are around 4 species of bullhead, all found locally with the
exact same requirements as the black bullhead. These are great native
fish to start with.
We appreciate your feedback.