/ictaluridae/ameiurus/melas/1.jpg "Ameiurus melas(1) - Click to enlarge")
/ictaluridae/ameiurus/melas/2.jpg "Ameiurus melas(2) - Click to enlarge")
/ictaluridae/ameiurus/melas/3.jpg "Ameiurus melas(3) Collected in New Zealand! - Click to enlarge")
/ictaluridae/ameiurus/melas/4.jpg "Ameiurus melas(4) Juvenile, Unicorn Lake, MD - Click to enlarge")
/ictaluridae/ameiurus/melas/5.jpg "Ameiurus melas(5) - Click to enlarge")
/ictaluridae/ameiurus/melas/6.jpg "Ameiurus melas(6) - Click to enlarge")
/ictaluridae/ameiurus/melas/7.jpg "Ameiurus melas(7) - Click to enlarge")
/ictaluridae/ameiurus/melas/8.jpg "Ameiurus melas(8) - Click to enlarge")
/ictaluridae/ameiurus/melas/9.jpg "Ameiurus melas(9) - Click to enlarge")
/ictaluridae/ameiurus/melas/10.jpg "Ameiurus melas(10) - Click to enlarge")
/ictaluridae/ameiurus/melas/11.jpg "Ameiurus melas(11) - Click to enlarge")
/ictaluridae/ameiurus/melas/12.jpg "Ameiurus melas(12) Stamp - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820) |
| Common Name(s) | Black Bullhead |
| Type Locality | Ohio R., U.S.A. |
| Synonym(s) | Ictalurus melas, Silurus melas |
| Pronunciation | Ai MEE you russ - me lass |
| Etymology | Ameiurus: ''curtailed'' refers to the lack of a deep notch in the caudal fin. melas = black |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 600mm (23.6") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | Very similar to the yellow bullhead, for which it can be mistaken for. The main difference is the barbels of the black bullhead which are black. |
| Sexing | Females are fuller during the spawning season which begins mid-spring. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Central North America from Southern Canada to Northern Mexico. It has been widely introduced elsewhere in the world. Great Lakes (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| pH | 6.0 - 7.6 |
| Temperature | 8.0-28.0°C or 46.4-82.4°F (Show others within this range) |
| Other Parameters | Tolerates poor conditions both in the wild and in captivity. Can survive for a limited time with as little as .5 ppm oxygen concentration and in unusually high temperatures. |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | Carnivore. Eats just about anything including minnows, goldfish, crayfish, earthworms and the like. They will accept most frozen foods as well as suitably sized dry foods. |
| Furniture | Likes to hide around driftwood and plants. Plants must be sturdy and in pots to prevent being uprooted by the catfish in its search for food. |
| Compatibility | Good with most fish, especially larger cichlids. Do not keep with small fish, it will eat them. |
| Breeding | This fish spawns most frequently during late May and June. Spawning occurs over sand in reed infested back waters. The females excavates a shallow nest by fin-fanning the substrate and pushing it with her snout. Spawning is accomplished in a head-to-tail embrace, the male wrapping his tail over the snout of the female. Typically 2500-4000 eggs are released. |
| Further Information | |
| References | Q. J. Sci. Lit. Arts (R. Inst. Gr. Brit.)v. 9 - pp51 A Field Guide To Freshwater Fishes North America North American Native Fishes for the Home Aquarium American Aquarium Fishes |
| Registered Keepers | (1) arapaima, (2) MisanthropeKitty, (3) artemis1, (4) Plunt (k: 4), (5) necrocanis, (6) scartastic, (7) xander, who also notes: "this picture is the bullhead I had before the one I have now. ", (8) miles44, (9) bapachu (p: 2), (10) wwajfd (k: 12), who also notes: "Not hard to spawn by accident, average life lifespan about 3 years from what I have seen ", (11) catfishking, (12) ewurm, (13) naturalart, (14) Djthomas (k: 11), who also notes: "These little guys were caught in a lake in WI by a minow net. They were only around an inch long back in June of 2009, now they are up to 3 inchs long as of Jan 2010", (15) ElTofi (k: 6), (16) miko (p: 2, k: 16), (17) Elwood (k: 7), (18) markm19, (19) Hoyo12. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.  Add this species to your "my cats" page. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| More Resources |
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| Hits | 10598 hits. |
| Last Update | 2008 Oct 24 09:59 (species record created: 2001 Apr 25 00:00) |
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