Look what I found!

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jakessvx1

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Oct 14, 2008
78
7
38
Midlothian VA
I was cleaning leaves out of my 300 gallon outdoor pond and look what I netted up ImageUploadedByMonsterAquariaNetwork1416883743.709298.jpg

I pulled in two of them. Both right at an inch. I know I have about 10 small brown bullheads and a couple yellow bullheads in the pond, but none are more than 5.5". Most are more like 3". Can they breed at those sizes? Or did a bird bring me eggs? Also, isn't it kinda odd for them to have babies so late in the season? These guys are only 1" this late in the year. If they were born in may shouldn't they be a bit bigger by now? Anyway, I must be doing something right. Problem is I'm already looking to give away some of the ten brown bullheads I originally had so now who knows what I have to get rid of. There's bound to be a lot more.

I know it's unlikely, but what if these guys are black bullheads that were brought in as eggs by birds? Is there anyway to ID them this small?


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Congrats on your spawn! Yes it's very possible for bullheads to breed at only 5.5" and 1" fry is a typical sixe for this time of year after spawning in early summer because of the colder outdoor temps. It looks like a Black to me could is probably a Brown if you don't have any Blacks in your pond. Although never doubt the ability of birds to introduce species. My local diving quarry when stocked had only Bluegill, LMBs, Black Crappie. Channel Cats, and Fathead Minnows. There's now breeding populations of Yellow Bullheads, Brown Bullheads, and even Northern Pike as well! This is also a very private quarry that only certain divers are allowed in so I'm pretty sure no rednecks stocked them nor would've had the intelligence to know how to.
 
Lot of stunted bullhead populations are breeding at that size and we tend to find YOY (young of year) bullheads this size at this time of year. These bullheads you have is a brown bullhead as they are lack of "C" marking at base of caudal fin.
 
divemaster99 said:
Congrats on your spawn! Yes it's very possible for bullheads to breed at only 5.5" and 1" fry is a typical sixe for this time of year after spawning in early summer because of the colder outdoor temps. It looks like a Black to me could is probably a Brown if you don't have any Blacks in your pond. Although never doubt the ability of birds to introduce species. My local diving quarry when stocked had only Bluegill, LMBs, Black Crappie. Channel Cats, and Fathead Minnows. There's now breeding populations of Yellow Bullheads, Brown Bullheads, and even Northern Pike as well! This is also a very private quarry that only certain divers are allowed in so I'm pretty sure no rednecks stocked them nor would've had the intelligence to know how to.
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Doubtful it was birds that introduced these species you mentioned. Bullheads are often mixed with the gamefish fingerlings when they were stocking them to that particular quarry so its not new to us. Also I believed that it was either "rednecks" or someone in the diving quarry is responsible for stocking northern pikes illegally. In fact it is MOST common practice in Minnesota and its usually fishermen that wants add more fish to that lake. We had few lakes including private and isolated ones that had fish stocked illegally.
 
Very cool little fish. If I had to guess I would say spawn over birds feet theory. Fish that are distributed by birds feet are usually egg dumpers like Carp or Pike. They spawn, and the female dumps tonnes of sticky eggs that can just as easily stick to a ducks foot as they can aquatic vegetation. Fish like Bass and Bullheads build nest and usually guard them well, making birds feet less likely.

end result, you have some cool new additions, I am sure you won't have any trouble getting rid of them.
 
PUHUCBLMX2 said:
Very cool little fish. If I had to guess I would say spawn over birds feet theory. Fish that are distributed by birds feet are usually egg dumpers like Carp or Pike. They spawn, and the female dumps tonnes of sticky eggs that can just as easily stick to a ducks foot as they can aquatic vegetation. Fish like Bass and Bullheads build nest and usually guard them well, making birds feet less likely.

end result, you have some cool new additions, I am sure you won't have any trouble getting rid of them.
Click to expand...
doubtful the birds can spreading carp or pike eggs around as many waters hasn't touched by carps or pikes yet the birds frequently visiting these waters. The eggs will be dry as hard within minutes when they are out of water.
 
PUHUCBLMX2 said:
Very cool little fish. If I had to guess I would say spawn over birds feet theory. Fish that are distributed by birds feet are usually egg dumpers like Carp or Pike. They spawn, and the female dumps tonnes of sticky eggs that can just as easily stick to a ducks foot as they can aquatic vegetation. Fish like Bass and Bullheads build nest and usually guard them well, making birds feet less likely.

end result, you have some cool new additions, I am sure you won't have any trouble getting rid of them.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what to do with them I only want a couple. Now I probably have dozens. I'm gonna be way over stocked if I keep them. I can't release them and I don't know anyone to give them to. I might just have to feed them to my flathead unless I can find them a home. Since they are captive bred am I allowed to sell them?


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