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

Southern mottled form
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Egg nest in garden pond
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Southern mottled form

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Ameiurus nebulosus** (Lesueur, 1819)
Common Names	Brown Bullhead Brun Dværgmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Delaware River, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Synonym(s)	Ameirus nebulosus, Ameiurus lacustris, Ameiurus nebulosus marmoratus, Ameiurus vulgaris, Amiurus catus, Amiurus mispilliensis, Amiurus nebulosus, Amiurus vulgaris, Gronias nigrilabris, Ictalurus nebucosus, Ictalurus nebulosus, Ictalurus nebulosus marmoratus, Ictalurus nebulosus nebulosus, Ictalurus nebulosus pannonicus, Pimelodus atrarius, Pimelodus catus, Pimelodus dekayi, Pimelodus felis, Pimelodus hoyi, Pimelodus marmoratus, Pimelodus nebulosus, Pimelodus pullus, Pimelodus vulgaris, Silurus coenosis
Pronunciation	Ai MEE you russ - neb you low suss
Etymology	Ameiurus: ''curtailed'' refers to the lack of a deep notch in the caudal fin. The specific epithet, nebulosus, means cloud and refers to the cloudy yellowish-brown colour.
Species Information
Size	550mm or 21.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Similar to Ameiurus melas but has 5-8 large saw like teeth on rear of pectoral spine. There is a mottled colour form (previously known as the subspecies Ameiurus nebulosus marmoratus) which occurs in the South East US and can readily be confused with Ameiurus serracanthus, aside from having more than double the aforementioned fin spine serrations, the latter species has a black oval blotch at the juncture of the dorsal fin with the upper back.
Sexing	Females much fuller bodied during breeding season. This occurs during early spring.
General Remarks	Occurs in pools and sluggish runs over soft substrates in creeks and small to large rivers. Also found in impoundments, lakes, and ponds. Has been known to bury itself in the soft sand substrate when water conditions are toxic.
Habitat Information
Distribution	North America: Atlantic and Gulf Slope drainages from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada to Mobile Bay in Alabama in USA, and St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay and Mississippi River basins from Quebec west to Saskatchewan in Canada and south to Louisiana, USA. Introduced into several countries. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction. Asia: Iran and Turkey. North American Atlantic Drainages (click on these areas to find other species found there) Gulf Coast Drainages (click on these areas to find other species found there) Gulf Coast Drainages, Mississippi (click on these areas to find other species found there) North American Atlantic Drainages, Great Lakes (click on these areas to find other species found there) North American Atlantic Drainages, Saint Lawrence (click on these areas to find other species found there) North American Atlantic Drainages, Great Lakes (click on these areas to find other species found there) North American Atlantic Drainages, Hudson (click on these areas to find other species found there) North American Atlantic Drainages, Florida waters (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	6.6 - 7.6
Temperature	24.5-26.0°C or 76.1-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Surprisingly tolerant of water with low dissolved oxygen levels.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	A nocturnal feeder that feeds mollusks, insects, leeches, crayfish and plankton, worms, algae, plant material, fishes and has been reported to feed on eggs, of least, cisco, herring and lake trout. User data.
Furniture	Larger, open layout aquarium with sand substrate. A couple larger driftwood logs to hide under is all that is required for refuge.
Compatibility	Social with most anything they can not swallow, to be on the safe side do not house with anything less than half it's own size.
Breeding	Not reported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Mémoires du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris v. 5, pp 149.
Registered Keepers	There are 23 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 9 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.5.20.52
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:37 (species record created: 2001 Apr 25 00:00)