Author(s): Wiggles92 (Ryan Bing)
Photos by:
Edited, Arranged, and Referenced by Wiggles92
*** All Information & Images Copyright 2011 Ryan Bing and www.MonsterFishKeepers.com OR used with permission. No material (listed above) may be reproduced without permission.
Species Information
Scientific Name:
Amia calva
Common Name(s):
Bowfin, dogfish, mudfish
Distribution:
North America: St. Lawrence River, Lake Champlain drainage of Quebec and Vermont west across southern Ontario to the Mississippi drainage in Minnesota.
Description:
The bowfin is a tubular fish that has a prominent elongate dorsal fin and nostril tubercles as well as a scaleless head. These fish are facultative air-breathers and can use their modified gas bladder as if it were a lung to breathe air if need be.
Amia calva have three distinct pattern variations that correspond to the age and gender of the fish in question. Juvenile bowfins are typically brightly colored and have a yellow-ringed ocellus on the upper portion of the caudal peduncle. Adult male bowfins retain the yellow-ringed ocellus of the juvenile and are reasonably brightly colored as well; the males’ fins turn bright blue-green in the Spring. Adult female bowfins typically lose the yellow-ringed ocellus of the juvenile and are usually a drab brown in coloration.
Bowfins typically attain lengths of 21” in the wild, but individuals have been reported to be as long as 43”. Males typically are somewhat smaller than females. During the mating season, the male will construct and guard a nest (a depression made in aquatic vegetation) and will mate with several females. The male cares for the young and will sometimes brood them in his mouth.
Comments:
These fish are the only living member of the family Amiidae and are closely related to the gars of the family Lepisosteidae. These fish are often said to be closely related to snakeheads or even said to be snakeheads, but they are not closely related to snakeheads and definitely are not a species of snakehead.
Captive Care Guide
Average Captive Max Size:
14” – 20”
Average Captive Growth Rate:
Age: YOY
You can expect very rapid growth rates during the bowfin’s first few months of life which growth slows down considerably. Expect your bowfin to attain a length of at least 4” – 6” during the first six months with a length in excess of 12” being possible after the first year.
Age: Two years
Growth is much slower during the second year. Expect your bowfin to be at least 12” – 16” after the second year.
Age: Three years and up
Growth slows greatly from this point forward.
Suggested Husbandry:
Tank Size:
Follow the step up rule of thumb for a growing fish. For a single adult specimen, a 125 gallon aquarium (72” x 24” x 17”
is considered to be the bare minimum; a larger aquarium may be necessary should the bowfin be larger than the typical adult specimen.
The rule of thumb for minimum tank size when it comes to these fishes is for one to gauge what amount of space is comfortable for the fish using good sense, and ask questions when in doubt.
Water Parameters:
Bowfins are insensitive to most water conditions. One does not have to have much aeration as they are air breathers. A moderate pH is recommended, though others (whether notably low or high) can be tolerated. Remember to keep up on water changes and have abundant filtration in order to deal with the excessive waste left over by these predators.
Tankmates:
Bowfins often are not compatible tankmates. Some bowfins will cohabitate well with an assortment of tankmates such as gars and sunfish, but many are far too aggressive to be kept with other fishes besides other bowfins and even then there can be issues. One suggestion is to raise it with other fishes that you are not attached to until its temperament is well known. Be sure to watch for any aggression between the fish during the first few days in order to see if the fish can share their aquarium in relative peace. Avoid keeping it with silvery fish (characins, etc.) and slime-sucking fish (suckermouth catfish, etc.).
Diet:
Bowfins sometimes have a preference for live foods, so they should be given minnows (rosy reds, etc.) and/or earthworms until they accept other foods. Try giving them small pieces of fish fillet, market shrimp, or beef heart (preferably the fish or shrimp) in order to transition them to a prepared diet. You may also want to eventually try to get them to accept pellets in order to provide an even more balanced diet. Be sure to quarantine any live foods that you give your bowfin.
References:
Fishbase.org:
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=2600&AT=bowfin
PrimitiveFishes.com:
http://www.primitivefishes.com/index_files/Page1919.htm
NANFA:
http://www.nanfa.org/captivecare/bowfin.shtml
http://www.nanfa.org/articles/actankbowfins.shtml
MFK Thread “Bowfin Care”:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...04-bowfin-care&p=835522&viewfull=1#post835522
Bond’s Biology of Fishes (3rd Edition) by Michael Barton
Photos by:
Edited, Arranged, and Referenced by Wiggles92
*** All Information & Images Copyright 2011 Ryan Bing and www.MonsterFishKeepers.com OR used with permission. No material (listed above) may be reproduced without permission.
Species Information
Scientific Name:
Amia calva
Common Name(s):
Bowfin, dogfish, mudfish
Distribution:
North America: St. Lawrence River, Lake Champlain drainage of Quebec and Vermont west across southern Ontario to the Mississippi drainage in Minnesota.
Description:
The bowfin is a tubular fish that has a prominent elongate dorsal fin and nostril tubercles as well as a scaleless head. These fish are facultative air-breathers and can use their modified gas bladder as if it were a lung to breathe air if need be.
Amia calva have three distinct pattern variations that correspond to the age and gender of the fish in question. Juvenile bowfins are typically brightly colored and have a yellow-ringed ocellus on the upper portion of the caudal peduncle. Adult male bowfins retain the yellow-ringed ocellus of the juvenile and are reasonably brightly colored as well; the males’ fins turn bright blue-green in the Spring. Adult female bowfins typically lose the yellow-ringed ocellus of the juvenile and are usually a drab brown in coloration.
Bowfins typically attain lengths of 21” in the wild, but individuals have been reported to be as long as 43”. Males typically are somewhat smaller than females. During the mating season, the male will construct and guard a nest (a depression made in aquatic vegetation) and will mate with several females. The male cares for the young and will sometimes brood them in his mouth.
Comments:
These fish are the only living member of the family Amiidae and are closely related to the gars of the family Lepisosteidae. These fish are often said to be closely related to snakeheads or even said to be snakeheads, but they are not closely related to snakeheads and definitely are not a species of snakehead.
Captive Care Guide
Average Captive Max Size:
14” – 20”
Average Captive Growth Rate:
Age: YOY
You can expect very rapid growth rates during the bowfin’s first few months of life which growth slows down considerably. Expect your bowfin to attain a length of at least 4” – 6” during the first six months with a length in excess of 12” being possible after the first year.
Age: Two years
Growth is much slower during the second year. Expect your bowfin to be at least 12” – 16” after the second year.
Age: Three years and up
Growth slows greatly from this point forward.
Suggested Husbandry:
Tank Size:
Follow the step up rule of thumb for a growing fish. For a single adult specimen, a 125 gallon aquarium (72” x 24” x 17”
is considered to be the bare minimum; a larger aquarium may be necessary should the bowfin be larger than the typical adult specimen.The rule of thumb for minimum tank size when it comes to these fishes is for one to gauge what amount of space is comfortable for the fish using good sense, and ask questions when in doubt.
Water Parameters:
Bowfins are insensitive to most water conditions. One does not have to have much aeration as they are air breathers. A moderate pH is recommended, though others (whether notably low or high) can be tolerated. Remember to keep up on water changes and have abundant filtration in order to deal with the excessive waste left over by these predators.
Tankmates:
Bowfins often are not compatible tankmates. Some bowfins will cohabitate well with an assortment of tankmates such as gars and sunfish, but many are far too aggressive to be kept with other fishes besides other bowfins and even then there can be issues. One suggestion is to raise it with other fishes that you are not attached to until its temperament is well known. Be sure to watch for any aggression between the fish during the first few days in order to see if the fish can share their aquarium in relative peace. Avoid keeping it with silvery fish (characins, etc.) and slime-sucking fish (suckermouth catfish, etc.).
Diet:
Bowfins sometimes have a preference for live foods, so they should be given minnows (rosy reds, etc.) and/or earthworms until they accept other foods. Try giving them small pieces of fish fillet, market shrimp, or beef heart (preferably the fish or shrimp) in order to transition them to a prepared diet. You may also want to eventually try to get them to accept pellets in order to provide an even more balanced diet. Be sure to quarantine any live foods that you give your bowfin.
References:
Fishbase.org:
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=2600&AT=bowfin
PrimitiveFishes.com:
http://www.primitivefishes.com/index_files/Page1919.htm
NANFA:
http://www.nanfa.org/captivecare/bowfin.shtml
http://www.nanfa.org/articles/actankbowfins.shtml
MFK Thread “Bowfin Care”:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...04-bowfin-care&p=835522&viewfull=1#post835522
Bond’s Biology of Fishes (3rd Edition) by Michael Barton
