Ameiurus melas (Black Bullhead) Breeding Guide

Black bullheads nest in mud or sand, guard the eggs with both parents and shepherd the fry as a compact school; this guide covers their pond reproduction.

Overview

Ameiurus melas, the black bullhead, is a hardy North American catfish of the family Ictaluridae found throughout the central United States. According to Wikipedia adults are typically 165 to 229 mm long. It is cold-tolerant and usually kept in ponds, where it can survive winter under ice, so it is a pond fish rather than a home-aquarium species.

Spawning Behaviour & Trigger

According to Wikipedia, black bullheads spawn from April through June, and at similar latitudes such as Wisconsin spawning has been recorded as late as early August. The female builds the nest, scooping out a small hole or depression in mud or sand, typically at a depth of about 0.6 to 1.2 m and beneath shelter such as vegetation, woody debris or overhanging banks.

Egg & Fry Care

Eggs are laid in a gelatinous mass and guarded by both parents, which periodically fan and stir the spawn with their tails and fins. Incubation depends on temperature and typically takes five to ten days. After the fry absorb their yolk sacs and rise from the substrate, they form a compact cloud-like school; the parents continue to follow and circle the school to keep it tight, abandoning the young once they reach around 25 mm in length.

Common Challenges

The nesting requires a soft substrate to excavate and sheltered cover, and successful rearing depends on the parents being left to guard the eggs and fry undisturbed. Adult size, the need for pond conditions and the seasonal spawning window mean this is an outdoor pond project; it is impractical in an ordinary aquarium.