Question About Bullheads

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crypticmonk

Exodon
MFK Member
Nov 4, 2013
58
10
23
United States
Hi everyone,
I recently got a few black bullheads (super excited about them; I used to catch these as a kid when I lived back east), and I was wondering, do they need a tight-fitting lid (i.e. do they tend to escape)?
Thanks!
 
They are not who I'd call master escape artists like eels, walking catfish, snakeheads, arowana and arapaima but any fish will try to bail if it doesn't like the water it is in. Bullheads are strong fish, they are not known for jumping but they can lift a lid I'd imagine, so the water level better be a few inches below the lids at least.
 
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OK thank you, that's what I wanted to know!

Sorry, I have one more question. I got some juvenile bullheads a few days ago, and they still aren't eating. Normally I wouldn't be worried, but they're kind of thin, and I know bullheads have a reputation for being voracious eaters...
Anyone know what the problem could be? I have them in a 40-gallon, 76 degrees, 7.5ish pH, no lighting (although the room is pretty bright).
Thanks!
 
Sorry, I have one more question. I got some juvenile bullheads a few days ago, and they still aren't eating. Normally I wouldn't be worried, but they're kind of thin, and I know bullheads have a reputation for being voracious eaters...
Anyone know what the problem could be? I have them in a 40-gallon, 76 degrees, 7.5ish pH, no lighting (although the room is pretty bright).
Thanks!

Is your aquarium fully Cycled?
What have tried to feed the Bullheads?
 
No, I set it up pretty recently. But I added water from my already established tanks.
I tried feeding them pellets, flake food, and fresh salmon.
 
No, I set it up pretty recently. But I added water from my already established tanks.
I tried feeding them pellets, flake food, and fresh salmon.


Did you add a seeded filter on the aquarium. Water from the established aquarium will have almost no beneficial bacteria. Do a water change about half or more don't forget to add dechlorinator. I suggest trying red wriggler's from a bait shop to hopefully trigger a feeding response. Drop 1 or 2 worms in at a time. Remove worm if not eaten.
 
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IMO adding water from cycled tanks will not speed up the cycling of a new tank. So for all intents and purposes you have zero biofiltration in your bullhead tank and if you do nothing, it will remain largely zero for a few weeks, during which if you attempt to feed the bullheads, you will just be torturing and killing them.

What you are doing is a clueless roockie approach, which I have been guilty of plenty and it ALWAYS leads to problems, fish suffering and/or fish losses. The smaller the fish and the bigger the tank and the larger the available surface area for the settling by the beneficial bacteria, the higher the chances of success. That's true. With tiny fish, like 1", you may pull it off easier. But all in all, no offence is meant, this is not what I'd expect from someone who has been on MFKer for 6 years now.

I'd recommend rehoming them into a cycled tank. Otherwise, add Ammolock (to detox ammonia) and table salt (to detox nitrite) or Prime or other ammonia+nitrite detoxifiers. Then you could try to feed them something tiny and easy on biofilter, like blood worms, which are hard to remove though if left uneaten, while the removing ups your chances.

For sure you'd benefit from testing the water by an API test tube kit regularly until the tank is fully cycled. In fact, if you don't start doing it immediately, we'd be largely clueless how to help you.

If your bullheads are larger than 1", you got chances stacked up against you thousand or a million to one.

Forgive me please if I sound harsh. I am sincerely trying to give it my best shot but words are not my forte sometimes.
 
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Do you have an established tank you can put them in and see if they start eating for now?
 
Thanks everyone, and no offense taken. I actually have been keeping aquariums for 20 years, just haven't been on this site long.
I did add Prime.
If I could explain my situation, the reason this was all rushed is because I live in Montana, and usually the temps here are pretty mild in October, but this year it got cold very suddenly, so this was my last chance to order them before winter (I was planning on waiting a few more weeks). Also, I was thinking because they were small (they're 2") and it was a big tank and bullheads are pretty hardy, it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

But yes, you're absolutely right, I know it's not ideal.
 
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