Hi all,

Recently this little catfish came in with a shipment of ghost shrimp... We have no clue what he is, so I need some help. I'm worried that he's going to turn out to be a huge catfish, and I don't have the space for a giant fish! I've had him about 2 weeks. He's grown from about an inch and a quarter to over two inches in that time. He's a neat little fish, but has already started bullying some of the other fish. He likes to push around some of my swordtails... He doesn't do it often, but it is often enough. Any help is appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Sondra

PS- sorry about the poor quality of the photos, its an OLD camera!

My guess is brown bullhead.  Brown bullheads get around 21" long, according to my ID book.  Hopefully someone more experienced will chime in.

This could be a job for our resident big.....sorry MONSTER fish expert.

*grabs flashlight and aims at clouds* Buk! We need you!!!

def a bullhead...i'm inclined to say speckled (Ameriurus serracanthus) just because it's so readily available in this area but i think i'm gonna have to agree and say it's a brown (Ameiurus nebulosus. either way this is a very fun family to keep. if u can try to find a few more as they will either pair up or at least make for a fun sight as they tend to be a playful catfish.

Fun fish, but big.  It will soon regard the swordtails as snacks.

everafter101 said :

Hi all,

Recently this little catfish came in with a shipment of ghost shrimp... We have no clue what he is, so I need some help. I'm worried that he's going to turn out to be a huge catfish, and I don't have the space for a giant fish! I've had him about 2 weeks. He's grown from about an inch and a quarter to over two inches in that time. He's a neat little fish, but has already started bullying some of the other fish. He likes to push around some of my swordtails... He doesn't do it often, but it is often enough. Any help is appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Sondra

PS- sorry about the poor quality of the photos, its an OLD camera!

Ok no book in front of me but i have been a creek/river/pond fisherman all my life and i have to Disagree on this being a bullhead. all the bullheads i have ever caught were brownish with a yellow or white belly. This looks more like a Channel or Blue catfish to me, at least from these pics. Is it a blueish silver with black spots? if so its no bull head, its a channel cat. Either way i do agree unless your jumping into monster fish keeping you might wanna find him a home cause to him food is whatever will fit in his mouth and that includes your other fish! and i have seen channel cats in the 40+ lb range at about 2ft+ long.

Vance I think I would agree with Buk on this one

Link to Catfish ID

It sure looks like the same thing to me.        Looks like we have another member for the Monster Fish keepers forum

RJS8540 said :

Vance I think I would agree with Buk on this one

Link to Catfish ID

It sure looks like the same thing to me.        Looks like we have another member for the Monster Fish keepers forum

Color doesnt look right to me even for a black bullhead. I could be wrong heck maybe all the "channel cats" i have cause were actually bullheads! or it could be my eyes cant remember the last time i seen an eye docter was!

as far as coloration and all i'd have to agree with vance it does somewhat resemble a blue channel cat...but with the black fins and tail and the "cutoff" look of the tail it's def a bullhead species.

large in regards to u'r average bread and butter fish found in most fish stores but yet small as far as a lot of cats get. would be great in a larger tank with some cichlids and such like bass and bluegill.

BuK said :

as far as coloration and all i'd have to agree with vance it does somewhat resemble a blue channel cat...but with the black fins and tail and the "cutoff" look of the tail it's def a bullhead species.

large in regards to u'r average bread and butter fish found in most fish stores but yet small as far as a lot of cats get. would be great in a larger tank with some cichlids and such like bass and bluegill.

Thanks buk i was just looking at color but ya now that i look at the shape and the fins i think your right. just wanted to be sure my eyes hadnt went totally screwy on me! i am getting old lol! Pretty fish none the less. Maybe a new "buk monster in the works"?