Black bullhead
Ameiurus melas
Water parameters
Minimum tank: 300 L per individual at harvest size.
Feed and growth
- Feed protein
- 32% target
- Daily feed (warm)
- 1.80% of body weight
- Daily feed (cool)
- 0.60% of body weight
- Max density
- 50 g per litre
A 600 g adult eats about 10.8 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~108 g daily.
Legality
Rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | permit required | verified 2026-05-13 |
| European Union (bloc) | check local regulations | Introduced in parts of Europe; restricted in some EU countries as invasive verified 2026-05-13 |
| New South Wales | prohibited | verified 2026-05-13 |
Unlisted jurisdictions default to "check local regulations".
Origin and habitat
Native to central and eastern North America, from the Great Lakes south through the Mississippi basin and into the Gulf Coast drainages. The species (Ameiurus melas) is a small, robust catfish found in ponds, marshes, slow streams, and lake margins with muddy or silty substrates. Adults typically reach 15–30 cm and 200–500 g, considerably smaller than channel catfish. Black bullheads are among the most tolerant freshwater fish in North America: they survive dissolved oxygen near zero (they can absorb some oxygen through the skin and buccal cavity), temperatures from 4°C to 35°C, high turbidity, and polluted water that would kill most other cultured species. They're omnivorous bottom-feeders that eat insects, crustaceans, mollusks, plant material, carrion, and detritus. The flesh is white and mild when taken from clean water, though fish from muddy ponds can have an off-flavor.
Climate and outdoor ponds
- Climate
- temperate (handles seasonal swings)
- USDA zones
- 4–11 (winter low around -34°C or warmer)
- Heating needed
- no
- Cooling needed
- no
Care notes
A small, extremely hardy catfish option for aquaponics in regions where channel catfish aren't available or where a smaller, more resilient species is needed. Growth is slower and maximum size is considerably smaller than channel catfish: expect 200–400 g harvest weight in 12-18 months. FCR on commercial catfish pellet (28-32% protein) is approximately 2.0-2.5, less efficient than channel catfish. The overwhelming advantage is toughness: black bullheads survive water quality excursions that would kill channel catfish, tilapia, or trout. Temperature tolerance spans 4–35°C. Dissolved oxygen can approach zero temporarily without mortality (though growth stops entirely and chronic low oxygen stunts them). This makes them suited to systems with inconsistent management, marginal infrastructure, or extreme climate conditions. Stocking density: 10-15 g/L. Fingerlings are available from bait shops, farm supply stores, and state hatcheries across the Midwest and eastern US. Legal in most states without permits. The flesh is acceptable table fare from clean water systems but less desirable than channel catfish; the smaller fillet size limits commercial market appeal. Best suited for personal consumption rather than market sales. A practical choice for cold-climate, low-budget aquaponics where system reliability matters more than production efficiency.