Article © Heok Hee Ng, uploaded July 01, 2004.

The catfish world is full of diverse and odd things. We're adding to that diversity in our co-written CotM for July. Scotland and Singapore come together to write about an unsung North American beauty.

As the halcyon days of summer return once more to the northern hemisphere, this is perhaps an opportune moment for CotM to focus attention on a member of what is probably the most eligible group of temperate catfishes for the home aquarium: the margined madtom (Noturus insignis).

Madtoms are the smallest member of the North American catfish family Ictaluridae. The fact that they stay small (unlike their much bigger cousins), have a somewhat catholic palate, and adapt easily to aquarium conditions, make them prime candidates for a coldwater tank. They are remarkably speciose, with 26 species described (and several more awaiting description) to date.

Whence the name “madtom”? The etymology of this endearing common name has been lost in the mists of time, but two contending theories are most often quoted. The first concerns the painful sting that these diminutive catfishes are able to inflict on the unwary, or perhaps uninitiated, angler or aquarist. Presumably, in days gone by, an unfortunate soul by the name of Thomas came off the worse in an encounter with one such catfish and the name aptly describes his reaction to the sting. Doubters of this theory may prefer the second that surmises the name comes from the frenzied swimming pattern of the fish (which is typical for many catfishes living in fast-flowing streams). When viewed from above they scoot around in seemingly random wavy paths, scattering like an electric shock special effect in an eighties Hollywood movie.

The margined madtom is a typical representative of this group. Neither large for a madtom, nor stunning in the beauty stakes (there are madtoms with even more drab coloration and those of striking beauty), the margined madtom is similar to the slender madtom (N. exilis) in having a black margin to the caudal fin, but can be distinguished from it in lacking pale spots on the nape and behind the dorsal fin base. Our margined feature fish also sports an upper jaw longer than the lower (the jaws are equal in the slender madtom). As previously mentioned, the margined madtom is adaptable to aquarium conditions, and can even do without a strong current in the tank (although their natural habitat consists of rocky riffles in clear, fast-flowing streams). Providing palatable food is straightforward and they will eagerly take all manner of prepared and frozen food, although one source does warn of problems in digesting some oligochaete worms (especially tubifex worms and earthworms). Because of its small size, the margined madtom makes an ideal tankmate for the coldwater community tank, and will coexist peacefully with a school of shiners, among other North American natives.

Reports of madtom breeding appear uncommon, but then, given how infrequently they are kept as aquarium fish, they're actually quite well documented. That said, it appears that most spawnings happen more by accident than by design. Nevertheless, it is still possible to induce spawning by a liberal feeding regime of mostly live foods (particularly insect larvae), extensive water changes, and a sharp drop, immediately followed by an increase, in temperature. One habit of madtoms that endears them to aquarists is their penchant for breeding in empty beer cans, so perhaps an empty or two of your favorite brew may be enough to do the trick. Hopeful breeders may have to try several brands just to get the right can shape for the particular species.

While you can take the last paragraphs final sentence in (at least partial) jest, the good old amber aphrodisiac truly does have its place as such in the catfish world too; at least in terms of providing a romantic retreat for the modern madtom. Prior to spawning, male madtoms will develop enlarged cheek muscles and can be counted on to guard the fry once they hatch. In fact, the similarities between, for example, bristlenose plecos (Ancistrus spp.) and madtom breeding regimes should not be overlooked.

Though one would not usually think of madtoms as food, bones of the margined madtom have been found in archeological sites with burnt patterns that suggest that the fish may have been roasted and eaten by Native Americans. In certain areas of its natural distribution, the margined madtom is also the most common bait species used by anglers to catch smallmouth bass, which are said to prefer madtoms to all other bait fish (commercially produced madtom-shaped lures are commonly available to bass fishermen).

With their bold patterns, peaceful nature and ease of husbandry, it is surprising that madtoms are not encountered more frequently in aquaria. In a sub-continent of millions of aquaria, with native catfish deeply interwoven with local culture, it is perverse yet perhaps comforting to find these fish blissfully ignorant of their own obscurity. If there is one group of catfishes considered to be the most overlooked for the aquarium, madtoms would be it.

Copyright information for the images used in this article can be found on the species' full Cat-eLog page.

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	Noturus insignis  (Richardson, 1836)
Common Names	Margined Madtom Sortfinnet Giftmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Vicinity of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Synonym(s)	Pimelodus insigne
Pronunciation	no two russ - in SIG niss
Etymology	From the Greek notos, meaning back and oura, meaning tail. In reference to the confluent adipose and caudal fins. The specific name comes from the Latin insignis, meaning distinguished, in reference to the distinctly marked fins.
Articles
Species Information
Size	150mm or 5.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Yellow to slate gray above; white or light below; yellow or light gray fins. upper jaw projects beyond lower jaw. 15-21 anal rays.
Sexing	Breeding male with swollen lips,enlarged cephalic epaxial muscles, and large bulbous gentital papilla. Female with papilla with deep median groove ending in a small bump
General Remarks	Inhabits rocky riffles and runs of clear, fast creeks and small to medium rivers.
Habitat Information
Distribution	North America: Atlantic Slope from St. Lawrence River and southeastern Lake Ontario drainages in New York to upper Altamaha River drainage in Georgia, USA; upper Kanawha (New) River system in Virginia and North Carolina, USA; upper Monongahela River system in the USA. North American Atlantic Drainages (click on these areas to find other species found there) Log in to view data on a map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2012.
pH	6.2 - 7.0
Temperature	14.0-22.0°C or 57.2-71.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Highly oxygenated water not necessary but preferred.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Readily feeds on live and frozen foods. Will also adapt to flake and prepared foods for the aquarium. User data.
Furniture	Provide sand mixed with peat moss, pvc pipes, flat rocks and vegetation.
Compatibility	Suitable for a coldwater community tank.Ideal tank mates include small-midsized North american native fishes such as darters and shiners.
Suggested Tankmates	Ideal tankmates include small to midsized North American native fishes such as darters and shiners.
Breeding	Spawning occurs in the months of May-August. It is difficult in the aquarium however it has been done when wild caught specimens are added to aquariums with warmer temperatures than the river or drainage system they are captured from. Nests are sited beneath flat rocks in gentle runs and in slow water above and below riffles. Eggs number 54-200 per clutch and are guarded by the male.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Fauna Boreali-Americana Part 3, pp 132.
Registered Keepers	There are 9 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is but a single wish to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 9 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode
	Search for N. insignis
	Look up N. insignis on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up N. insignis on Fishbase
	Look up N. insignis on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up N. insignis on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
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Last Update	2020 Oct 04 00:51 (species record created: 2004 Jul 01 11:22)

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