Black bullhead
Ameiurus melas
- Tank length
- 150 cmabout 5 ft (59 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 8–28 °C46–82 °F
- pH
- 6–7.6
- Adult size
- 25 cm10 in
- Lifespan
- 5–10 yrs
A cool-water catfish that grows large, eats any fish it can swallow and fouls water quickly; really a pond or species-tank fish.A cool-water catfish that grows large, eats any fish it can swallow and fouls water quickly; really a pond or species-tank fish.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- African butterfly cichlid
Black bullhead may eat African butterfly cichlidBlack bullhead may eat African butterfly cichlid
- Agassiz's cory
Black bullhead may eat Agassiz's coryBlack bullhead may eat Agassiz's cory
Amano shrimpBlack bullhead may eat Amano shrimpBlack bullhead may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Black bullhead may eat American flagfishBlack bullhead may eat American flagfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Black bullhead may eat Arfak rainbowfishBlack bullhead may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailBlack bullhead may eat Assassin snailBlack bullhead may eat Assassin snail
- Bandit cory
Black bullhead may eat Bandit coryBlack bullhead may eat Bandit cory
- Batanta rainbowfish
Black bullhead may eat Batanta rainbowfishBlack bullhead may eat Batanta rainbowfish
- Black kuhli loach
Black bullhead may eat Black kuhli loachBlack bullhead may eat Black kuhli loach
Black neon tetraBlack bullhead may eat Black neon tetraBlack bullhead may eat Black neon tetra
- Black phantom tetra
Black bullhead may eat Black phantom tetraBlack bullhead may eat Black phantom tetra
- Black ruby barb
Black bullhead may eat Black ruby barbBlack bullhead may eat Black ruby barb
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 8–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–7.6 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Origin | Central North America | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 5–10 | curated-v0 (needs expert review); agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Months to adult size | 24 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 150 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |