PlanetCatfish.com - Ameiurus melas (Ictaluridae) Cat-eLog

Collected in New Zealand!
Juvenile, Unicorn Lake, MD
Stamp
Unicorn Lake, MD
Unicorn Lake, MD

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Ameiurus melas** (Rafinesque, 1820)
Common Names	Black Bullhead Schwarzer Katzenwels (Germany), Sort Dværgmalle (Denmark), Svart Dvärgmal (Sweden)
Type Locality	Ohio River, U.S.A.
Synonym(s)	Ameirus melas, Ameiurus melas melas, Amiurus brachyacanthus, Amiurus cragini, Amiurus obesus, Ictalurus melas, Ictalurus melas melas, Pimelodus catulus, Pimelodus confinis, Pimelodus cupreoides, Silurus melas
Pronunciation	Ai MEE you russ - me lass
Etymology	Ameiurus: ''curtailed'' refers to the lack of a deep notch in the caudal fin. melas = black
Species Information
Size	660mm or 26" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Very similar to the yellow bullhead, for which it can be mistaken for. The main difference is the barbels of the black bullhead which are black.
Sexing	Females are fuller during the spawning season which begins mid-spring.
Habitat Information
Distribution	North America: Great Lakes to northern Mexico. Confusion over the taxonomic status of this species together with Ameiurus nebulosus resulted in more doubts as to which of the two is present in some countries. In Europe it forms dense stunted populations which makes it unpopular. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction. North American Atlantic Drainages, Great Lakes (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2011.
pH	6.0 - 7.6
Temperature	8.0-28.0°C or 46.4-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Tolerates poor conditions both in the wild and in captivity. Can survive for a limited time with as little as .5 ppm oxygen concentration and in unusually high temperatures.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Carnivore. Eats just about anything including minnows, goldfish, crayfish, earthworms and the like. They will accept most frozen foods as well as suitably sized dry foods. User data.
Furniture	Likes to hide around driftwood and plants. Plants must be sturdy and in pots to prevent being uprooted by the catfish in its search for food.
Compatibility	Good with most fish, especially larger cichlids. Do not keep with small fish, it will eat them.
Breeding	This fish spawns most frequently during late May and June. Spawning occurs over sand in reed infested back waters. The females excavates a shallow nest by fin-fanning the substrate and pushing it with her snout. Spawning is accomplished in a head-to-tail embrace, the male wrapping his tail over the snout of the female. Typically 2500-4000 eggs are released.
Breeding Reports	There is but a single breeding report, read it here.
Further Information
Reference	Quarterly Journal of Science, Literature and the Arts v. 9, pp 51.
Registered Keepers	There are 34 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is but a single wish to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 6 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Search for A. melas
	Look up A. melas on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up A. melas on Fishbase
	Look up A. melas on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up A. melas on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.5.20.32
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:19 (species record created: 2001 Apr 25 00:00)