Bullhead, Mississippi river, Illinois.

snm · Post by **snm** » 05 Oct 2005, 02:51

Caught this with a net off shore. I have caught other baby bullheads that are pure black in color, but this one seems to be a light brown. Here is the best pic I could take. He hides a lot, so I can't take a better one right now.

I am thinking it could be a yellow bullhead, but I am not sure.
Thanks,
Steve

Post by **Silurus** » 05 Oct 2005, 02:54

From the size of the adipose fin, I think it's more likely a tadpole madtom. A better picture should confirm the ID.

snm · Post by **snm** » 05 Oct 2005, 03:11

I was just looking at them, and I does look like either the tadpol or brown madtom....i'll try and take a better pic if i can get it. anything I should lookfor that will tell them apart? the cat-elog pics of them are not the best either.

this one did sting my mom in the finger, and she said her whole hand hurt all day!

Post by **Silurus** » 05 Oct 2005, 03:13

It's unlikely to be a brown madtom, since these are not found so far north. Judging from your mom's experience, I'd say that's a madtom alright.

Orbital · Post by **Orbital** » 05 Oct 2005, 06:01

Do madtoms occur in Lakes that are fed by the Mississippi? We caught something like that that we thought was a bullhead. But in a tank full of bullheads you could tell that it was not one.

Post by **Silurus** » 05 Oct 2005, 10:37

This depends on the species, but tadpole madtoms occur in many habitats, even lakes.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 05 Oct 2005, 12:27

Check the tailfin, easiest part.

a bullhead has a regular "run off the mail" tailfin, separate from the other fins.

the Madtom has a weird tail, it goes "round the edges" of the tail, like a tadpole or an Axoltl-salamander.

snm · Post by **snm** » 07 Oct 2005, 15:12

Thank you! I never heard of a Madtom before joining this site. Glad I was able to catch one... i'll try again next year to get a few more

It is definitly a Tadpole Madtom!

Thanks again,
Steve