Yellow bullheads are nothing to shout about. That is certainly what most people think, but there is an understated appeal about these fishes, despite being often overlooked by aquarists and recreational fishermen. Despite a somewhat shy and retiring nature, they have the potential to make interesting pets. Together with their tolerance of a wide range of water conditions (although not to the degree of black or brown bullheads), this makes them the ideal fish for beginners with a large tank.

The yellow, brown and black bullheads look very similar to each other, but the yellow bullhead is easily distinguished from the other two species by their yellow or white (vs. dusky or black) mandibular barbels clearly shown in the top most image.

Yellow bullheads are typically found in clear, highly vegetated areas, seeming to prefer streams to lakes. They can be relatively sedentary (a study conducted in a lake showed that tagged fish remained within 100 meters of their release point), and are not particularly long-lived (6-7 years). While they have the usual catfish characteristic of being not usually seen in the open, they are quick learners and will learn to cruise the tank if feeding times are regular.

One remarkable feature of the yellow bullhead is the ability to curtail their growth under less than optimal conditions. This means that they can adjust their growth rate according to the space available (stunted individuals regularly occur in small lakes where the population has been allowed to grow unchecked). While this is not something that should be advocated, this feature makes it much easier to house yellow bullheads in smaller tanks.

Dull in color? Maybe. Uninteresting aquarium fish? Certainly not.

Thanksgo again to Heok Hee Ng for this month's featured catfish.

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