Our brown bullheads, northern and southern

[thebiggerthebetter]

Flashback from 2010-2011. Our first rescue southern brown bullhead, 14", in 4000 gal basement pond, 40'x6'x3', sorry about bad lighting. Of course, it couldn't last in there with all those large predatory tank mates, so we took it out in a few days.




...


Back to 2018. Thought I'd start a thread on our brown bullheads.

Got four - a pair of southern variant and a pair of northern variant - at tiny 1"-2". The southerns I got from Gunpowderaquatics end of 2015 and northerns I've got from a private breeder from Rochester, NY in Feb 2016, IIRC via Ebay.

Easy and undemanding fish to keep. Currently all are around 10". The northerns were growing faster up to 6"-8" than the southerns but then stopped and now it's a wash. This short video features the southern guy(s):

 

[thefredpit]

what are those 2 spiny eels in the tank?

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

what are those 2 spiny eels in the tank?

There are 2 or 3 TT eels and 3 or 4 black spot eels. They have their own thread, I think. If not, they will get one very soon.

 

[thefredpit]

cool eels are definitely one of my favorites

 

[Man vs fish]

Would you say they are fun fish to keep? After seeing this, it has me wanting(thinking) about going out to the lake to catch some brown bullhead or waiting till spring to find hatchlings

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Would you say they are fun fish to keep? After seeing this, it has me wanting(thinking) about going out to the lake to catch some brown bullhead or waiting till spring to find hatchlings

IMO, catching your own fish to keep and learn about is fun in and of itself (while obeying local laws).

As for fun, that varies for different people. That's why some people get tortoises for pets while others get fennec foxes... I think bullheads are characters. It's not some kind of non-stop action but they are quirky and interactive among themselves and their tank mates. On average, they are of course rather sedentary but everyone's tank differs. joel kept 60-70 bullheads in an inflatable or some such pool. I am sure his experience differs from mine.

 

[Chub_by]

IMO, catching your own fish to keep and learn about is fun in and of itself (while obeying local laws).

As for fun, that varies for different people. That's why some people get tortoises for pets while others get fennec foxes... I think bullheads are characters. It's not some kind of non-stop action but they are quirky and interactive among themselves and their tank mates.

Agree with both statements. Catching your own fish to keep is one of the coolest sides of the hobby!

As for bullheads, they aren't "pretty" by most peoples' standards and they, like Victor said, are very calm, sedentary fish. However, they are pretty personable and just cool to watch, gotta love a fish with a big appetite, too.

I don't see mine all too often, but when I do I'm always happy to see it just hoover up the food and then scuffle away in search of a new food source!
Speaking of, I should get new pictures of it.

 

[joel]

I’ve always liked bullheads. IMO there is nothing more fun to watch then a bunch of bullheads In a feeding frenzy. Like most cats they lay around until lights out. And I personally like dark ugly fish. I plan on collecting some when they are back in season. Kinda wish I kept the ones I had.

 

[Man vs fish]

What kind of growth rates do you see on these? Say starting with a 1" youngin, how long would it take to be a 10-12" adult(on average)? Im liking this idea now. Y'all seem to be pretty intrigued by these fish

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

...IMO there is nothing more fun to watch then a bunch of bullheads In a feeding frenzy...

I've never experienced it in my tanks because I've never had enough to create even a micro-frenzy but I am sure it is as much fun as Joel says. Especially if one uses floating pellets or some such. They sure do feed enthusiastically when comfortable and stress-free.

What kind of growth rates do you see on these? Say starting with a 1" youngin, how long would it take to be a 10-12" adult(on average)? Im liking this idea now. Y'all seem to be pretty intrigued by these fish

About 2-3 years in my hands. YMMV. Remember, the champion / max reported sizes:

-- black -------------------------------- aka Ictalurus melas ~~~27"
-- North American white catfish - aka I. catus ~~~~~~~~~27"
-- brown ------------------------------- aka I. nebulosus ~~~~~~23"
-- yellow ------------------------------- aka I. natalis ~~~~~~~~~19"
-- snail (I think aka spotted) ------ aka I. brunneus ~~~~~~~15"
-- flat or flathead -------------------- aka I. platycephalus ~~~~13"