Hey so I am planning on getting one black bullhead catfish for a 50 gallon tank, I am planning on giving lots of hiding spaces and plants along with driftwood. Do you guys have any recommendations or parameters that I should meet?
What tank I should use
- Thread starter Odog
- Start date
Welcome to the fishy family. Don’t think a 50g is big enough for a black bullhead as they can easily reach over 1 foot in length and a 50g is usually only like 12” wide. Would suggest at least 100g for a single bullhead and keep temps at 76°F-82°F but they’re highly adaptable to almost every condition you can imagine
I’ll see about a 75 gallon, but I don’t think I would have the space for it inside however I could use very big stock troughs instead.
Where are you located. Outside you may not need to worry about temps. A 75 might do short term but not sure about long term. Try looking into spotted bullhead. They stay about 10” and would be good for a 75 or 50
I live on the west coast but it doesn’t show that any madtom catfish have been stocked in ponds or lakes.
Catfish may not be the best for you then. What about some type of sunfish. Not sure about what fish are found on the west coast
Bullheads are survivors, adaptable, as stated. If your water parameters are average more or less and you know what you are doing keeping fish, then you should be fine.
If you are starting with a small black bullhead in a 50 gal tank, I'd think it is fine, at least for a few years. It is prudent to have a plan for when/if the fish will start outgrowing your tank - upgrade, pass it along to a peer with a larger tank, etc. Do not plan on releasing it into the wild - it'd be illegal and a bad idea.
We trust you have done basic homework and read data and care sheets for a black bullhead.
If you are starting with a small black bullhead in a 50 gal tank, I'd think it is fine, at least for a few years. It is prudent to have a plan for when/if the fish will start outgrowing your tank - upgrade, pass it along to a peer with a larger tank, etc. Do not plan on releasing it into the wild - it'd be illegal and a bad idea.
We trust you have done basic homework and read data and care sheets for a black bullhead.
I think it’s only illegal to release aquarium fish if they not native and have been in a tank with non native species for under 30 days. That’s what it is here I think anyway