Brown bullhead
Ameiurus nebulosus
- Tank length
- 150 cmabout 5 ft (59 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 16–26 °C61–79 °F
- pH
- 6.6–7.6
- Adult size
- 28 cm11 in
- Lifespan
- 5–10 yrs
Grows far larger than a typical aquarium allows and swallows smaller fish; best suited to unheated ponds or very large tanks.Grows far larger than a typical aquarium allows and swallows smaller fish; best suited to unheated ponds or very large tanks.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- African butterfly cichlid
Brown bullhead may eat African butterfly cichlidBrown bullhead may eat African butterfly cichlid
- Agassiz's cory
Brown bullhead may eat Agassiz's coryBrown bullhead may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
Brown bullhead may eat Ajamaru rainbowfishBrown bullhead may eat Ajamaru rainbowfish
Amano shrimpBrown bullhead may eat Amano shrimpBrown bullhead may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Brown bullhead may eat American flagfishBrown bullhead may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
Brown bullhead may eat Angfa rainbowfishBrown bullhead may eat Angfa rainbowfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Brown bullhead may eat Arfak rainbowfishBrown bullhead may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailBrown bullhead may eat Assassin snailBrown bullhead may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
Brown bullhead may eat Banded gouramiBrown bullhead may eat Banded gourami
- Bandit cory
Brown bullhead may eat Bandit coryBrown bullhead may eat Bandit cory
- Batanta rainbowfish
Brown bullhead may eat Batanta rainbowfishBrown bullhead may eat Batanta rainbowfish
- Black kuhli loach
Brown bullhead may eat Black kuhli loachBrown bullhead may eat Black kuhli loach
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 16–26 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.6–7.6 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Eastern 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 |