Guesstimates on bullhead catfish age

[packer43064]

I keep records on how old my fish are and was wondering how old would a 8ish in. bullhead catfish be. Thanks.

 

[Noto]

If it's one of the bigger bullheads (black, brown, yellow, white) it's probably two or three years old; an overfed captive fish might hit 8" in its first year, but not a wild fish. If it's one of the small southern species (spotted, snail, flat), it is probably at least four years old.

 

[haynchinook334]

If it's one of the bigger bullheads (black, brown, yellow, white) it's probably two or three years old; an overfed captive fish might hit 8" in its first year, but not a wild fish. If it's one of the small southern species (spotted, snail, flat), it is probably at least four years old.

Right on point.

i have one right now and it's 8'' at 1 year old. Power feeding is fun.

 

[packer43064]

If it's one of the bigger bullheads (black, brown, yellow, white) it's probably two or three years old; an overfed captive fish might hit 8" in its first year, but not a wild fish. If it's one of the small southern species (spotted, snail, flat), it is probably at least four years old.

Ummm, I had no idea there were even different types. He was a customer return at a LFS, with ammonia burns on his whiskers and looks pretty bad, so I doubt he was kept in good conditions. More than likely was caught and put in a tank and the owner had no idea what he was doing, so wild I wouls assume.

I'll take a few pics and then you can tell me what kind it is and a guess at the age. Okay?

 

[packer43064]

IDK what you all need to see to tell what kind it is so here's 8 shots of him. He mainly chills on his rock all day, never leaves his rock, unless he wants to eat, he also stares at me with his little eyes often. lol

 

[Mikeberg]

It is either a black bullhead or a brown bullhead because it has dark whiskers.
I would say a Brown Bullhead
But I am not 100% sure because it looks like it might have a light cresent by the tail on one photo. It was not there on the other photos. You need to count the anal fin rays. Black Bullhead have less then 19, Brown Bullhead have around 24. (this is from memory so I don't know the range)

 

[Noto]

I agree it's probably a brown. Anal fin ray counts probably won't help though, the ranges are 18-24 for browns and 19-25 for blacks. Fin coloration looks too uniform for a black; they have distinctly black fins with pale fin rays, and the pale crescent at the caudal fin base you mentioned (I see where it kind of looks like this fish has one, but I think that's just the light).

 

[packer43064]

I'll get a pic of the tail mike and noto just to make sure. How big do these guys get, JW.

 

[Noto]

Black and brown bullheads are both pretty large. I believe the records for both are in the 20", 8 lb. range, but most fish will be 12-16" and 1-3 lb.