Bullhead Spawn

Bullhead Lover · 04-03-2006, 08:08 PM

I noticed thursday that one of my bullheads was in a pot i have in my 55. It was strange because they are usually waiting to be feed in the morning but on thursday she would not leave the pot. I read on varous web pages that they make a saucer type of thing in the gravel, and this morning i saw that there were eggs in the pot and the other bullhead was fertilizing them.

Sorry if that story was long but i have a few questions.

How common is it for bullheads to eat their eggs?

Should i remove the parents?

How may tipicly survive to adulthood?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tanks Specs:

55 gal

80 F - water temp

2 bullheads - the parents

3 mystery snails

Don't know ph or nitrates because my test strips ran out and i havent bothered getting more.

here are pics too. [IMG][/IMG]

**TheOldSalt** · 04-04-2006, 07:34 PM

Hmm.. that's funny. I KNOW I answered this already, so where did my post go?

Anyway, no, it's not common for the parents to eat the eggs, and in fact they make pretty good parents. However, if you want to maximise production & minimize risk, then remove the parents.

The fry are ravenous, and will grow six inches in their first year. The survival rate is high if you take good care of them.

lotsoffish · 04-04-2006, 09:38 PM

Awesome accomplishment, I have never heard of bullheads being spawned in an aquarium!

Georgia Peach · 04-05-2006, 05:05 AM

congrats!

BTW, what is a bullhead??

**TheOldSalt** · 04-05-2006, 06:40 AM

It's a big ugly North American Catfish.

Ownager2004 · 04-05-2006, 06:48 AM

Ive never caught one over a couple pounds... How big do they get?

**fish_doc** · 04-05-2006, 06:44 PM

Thats cool and congrats.

Let us know when they start to hatch and their progress as they grow.

Bullhead Lover · 04-05-2006, 08:51 PM

thanks everyone and i will try my best. Hopefully they will hatch and everything goes well. By the way mine are about 9 to 10 inces. Not to big. I just love everthing about these fish and i have had them since they were fry so i have gotten attached to them, even if they are ugly.

**fish_doc** · 04-06-2006, 07:10 AM

Ugly bottom feeders are the best fish. I have a couple tanks with only bottom feeders in them. - Darn - now you got me thinking on how to spend a couple bucks to fill the rest of the tank.

Bullhead Lover · 04-06-2006, 08:25 PM

finnaly someone who likes ugly bottom dwellers. Im not the only one now.

Bullhead Lover · 04-08-2006, 05:34 PM

ok the fry hatched on Thurday April 6. There are alot. Just thought i would tell you.

Sorry i cant take a picture because they are hidding in the gravel so ill post one when they are bigger.

**fish_doc** · 04-08-2006, 08:25 PM

Cool, When they get a bit bigger would you be willing to send one or two my way?

jwalker · 04-09-2006, 11:56 AM

how about a pick of the proud parents? bet they look great

Bullhead Lover · 04-13-2006, 09:43 AM

Sorry i could not reply for a while. I was On Vacation. I Finally got good pics of the fry and the mom.(Had to wake up at 11:30 pm since they are nocturnal, But it's ok) The mom is a great mom too. Hope you like the photos.

**fish_doc** · 04-13-2006, 09:51 AM

Excellent photos. When you get a chance to watch them must be like watching a moving carpet or grass waving in the wind. The floor is always moving.

IloveCichlids · 04-13-2006, 10:26 AM

Awesome photos!

Hate to be the one who brings this up, but someone will... Do you have plans for a larger tank as a 55 is is already too small for 2 9"-10" bullheads. Ok there it is, it has been said!

Bullhead Lover · 04-13-2006, 10:28 AM

Yeah im thinking of getting a 100 gal, or making a small pond. Still unsure.

flamingo · 04-13-2006, 04:05 PM

omg! I love bullheads! I had one that started to pack on the fat but sadly got some sort of bacterial infection in it's skin, needless to say the skin just turned yellow and peeled off....

During the spring after they spawn I usually go down to the local marsh and catch some little buggers. Prolly one of my favorite fish I catch here and usually always have at least one....never heard of them being bred in an aquarium before though...

Bullhead Lover · 04-13-2006, 04:38 PM

Hey that's pretty wierd about the skin infection. Mine used to be all black but about a year ago most of their skin peeled of and now they are black and white.
It must be common i guess. You can see the color diffrence in the Photos.

jwalker · 04-14-2006, 04:19 PM

great pics bud.

04-03-2006, 08:08 PM	#1
Bullhead Lover Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 7	Bullhead Spawn I noticed thursday that one of my bullheads was in a pot i have in my 55. It was strange because they are usually waiting to be feed in the morning but on thursday she would not leave the pot. I read on varous web pages that they make a saucer type of thing in the gravel, and this morning i saw that there were eggs in the pot and the other bullhead was fertilizing them. Sorry if that story was long but i have a few questions. How common is it for bullheads to eat their eggs? Should i remove the parents? How may tipicly survive to adulthood? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Tanks Specs: 55 gal 80 F - water temp 2 bullheads - the parents 3 mystery snails Don't know ph or nitrates because my test strips ran out and i havent bothered getting more. here are pics too. [IMG][/IMG] Attached Images

04-05-2006, 05:05 AM	#4
Georgia Peach Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gray, Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 1,581	congrats! BTW, what is a bullhead?? __________________ *Cichlids have more personality than most people I know !*

04-05-2006, 06:44 PM	#7
fish_doc Advisor to Neptune (Mod) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 3,828	Thats cool and congrats. Let us know when they start to hatch and their progress as they grow. __________________ Dave (fish_doc) A World of fish

04-06-2006, 07:10 AM	#9
fish_doc Advisor to Neptune (Mod) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 3,828	Ugly bottom feeders are the best fish. I have a couple tanks with only bottom feeders in them. - Darn - now you got me thinking on how to spend a couple bucks to fill the rest of the tank. __________________ Dave (fish_doc) A World of fish

04-08-2006, 08:25 PM	#12
fish_doc Advisor to Neptune (Mod) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 3,828	Cool, When they get a bit bigger would you be willing to send one or two my way? __________________ Dave (fish_doc) A World of fish

Members currently in the Chat:2
	Users In Chat Room: Buggy, guppy_nut Come On In!

04-04-2006, 07:34 PM	#2
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,343	Hmm.. that's funny. I KNOW I answered this already, so where did my post go? Anyway, no, it's not common for the parents to eat the eggs, and in fact they make pretty good parents. However, if you want to maximise production & minimize risk, then remove the parents. The fry are ravenous, and will grow six inches in their first year. The survival rate is high if you take good care of them.

04-04-2006, 09:38 PM	#3
lotsoffish Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: N. Tonawanda NY Age: 46 Posts: 188	Awesome accomplishment, I have never heard of bullheads being spawned in an aquarium!

04-05-2006, 06:40 AM	#5
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,343	It's a big ugly North American Catfish.

04-05-2006, 06:48 AM	#6
Ownager2004 L33t n00b Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Athens, Ohio Age: 25 Posts: 466	Ive never caught one over a couple pounds... How big do they get?

04-05-2006, 08:51 PM	#8
Bullhead Lover Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 7	thanks everyone and i will try my best. Hopefully they will hatch and everything goes well. By the way mine are about 9 to 10 inces. Not to big. I just love everthing about these fish and i have had them since they were fry so i have gotten attached to them, even if they are ugly.

04-06-2006, 08:25 PM	#10
Bullhead Lover Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 7	finnaly someone who likes ugly bottom dwellers. Im not the only one now.

04-08-2006, 05:34 PM	#11
Bullhead Lover Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 7	ok the fry hatched on Thurday April 6. There are alot. Just thought i would tell you. Sorry i cant take a picture because they are hidding in the gravel so ill post one when they are bigger.

04-09-2006, 11:56 AM	#13
jwalker Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 35	how about a pick of the proud parents? bet they look great __________________ Jwalker Greater Pittsburgh Aquarium Society

04-13-2006, 09:51 AM	#15
fish_doc Advisor to Neptune (Mod) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 3,828	Excellent photos. When you get a chance to watch them must be like watching a moving carpet or grass waving in the wind. The floor is always moving. __________________ Dave (fish_doc) A World of fish

04-13-2006, 10:26 AM	#16
IloveCichlids Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 29 Posts: 456	Awesome photos! Hate to be the one who brings this up, but someone will... Do you have plans for a larger tank as a 55 is is already too small for 2 9"-10" bullheads. Ok there it is, it has been said! __________________ When you feel like this... , just watch your fish, & have a tasty beverage (of your choice, I like Kool-Aid)!

04-13-2006, 10:28 AM	#17
Bullhead Lover Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 7	Yeah im thinking of getting a 100 gal, or making a small pond. Still unsure.

04-13-2006, 04:05 PM	#18
flamingo One Word: Croutons. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 17 Posts: 1,899	omg! I love bullheads! I had one that started to pack on the fat but sadly got some sort of bacterial infection in it's skin, needless to say the skin just turned yellow and peeled off.... During the spring after they spawn I usually go down to the local marsh and catch some little buggers. Prolly one of my favorite fish I catch here and usually always have at least one....never heard of them being bred in an aquarium before though... __________________ If you put "u" instead of typing out the actual, shocking, three letter word... i'm not going to read your ramblings. I'm so behind it's not even funny.

04-13-2006, 04:38 PM	#19
Bullhead Lover Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 7	Hey that's pretty wierd about the skin infection. Mine used to be all black but about a year ago most of their skin peeled of and now they are black and white. It must be common i guess. You can see the color diffrence in the Photos.

04-14-2006, 04:19 PM	#20
jwalker Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 35	great pics bud. __________________ Jwalker Greater Pittsburgh Aquarium Society

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