PlanetCatfish.com

Hello everyone. I'm new. I recently bagged a small (1.5 inch) catfish out of Lake Wallenpaupack, PA. I believe it is either a black or brown bullhead. Right now I have him in a 20g tank by himself. I'm mainly a tropical fish guy so I have no idea how to care for North American fish.
So far I haven't seen him eat any of the fish food I've given him (flakes, sinking crumbles, algae wafers, and bloodworms) so I'd like to know what to feed him. And the tank is not quite set up yet either. About half the bottom is covered in gravel, but I'd like to know what type of substrate would suit him best. Also, I'd like to know what type of decorations I should put in the tank (hiding spots, real or fake plants, etc).
Currently the tank is unheated and unfiltered. The water temp is usually in the low 70s. I do have both a heater and a filter for the tank but would like to know if i need them. I read that some bullheads like dirty water.. so I was thinking about maybe running the filter without media. Please help me give this guy a good home. I'd really like to have him for a while and watch him grow. Thanks

Bullheads are not fussy eaters and should take all manner of foods (my yellow bullhead does). As for tank setup, a sandy substrate with some rockwork for the fish to hide in works best.
Don't worry about heating, since bullheads don't need particularly warm water. I would still add a filter to the tank, though. A simple sponge filter should suffice (works for my bullhead).

HELP! My bullhead still isn't eating. It seems bloodworms are the food that most people feed cats but mine won't touch them. Whats the secret? I have the freeze dried kind. He is getting pretty skinny and I'm afraid he might die soon. So far I've tried algae wafers, tropical crumbles, freeze dried bloodworms, and freshwater flakes. He won't touch any of them. I've seen him swim into the bloodworms (they touch his wiskars) but then he swims away from them. Same thing with the algae wafer.

He actually just sits there vertically facing the surface, occasionally swimming around. It seems like he doesn't have enough DO (I still haven't set up the filter yet nor set up the tank, shame on me) but even after I poured a couple of gallons of water in he still did it. Will he be better once I set the tank up? Like will it make him comfortable enough to eat? Any input would be greatly appreciated.. I don't think he's eaten in a week.

Visit the local pet store and get some cheap feeder guppies or small live brine-shrimp...

Your catfish has been used to "wild waters" since he was a fry and is not used to being fed pre-made dinners... he wants to hunt and bring down live prey like he's done all his life.

If feeder guppies/shrimps arent available, try getting some beef heart or liver chunks, cut them up into tiny bits that he can swallow and try them.

Ditch the freeze-dried bloodworms and get the plain frozen ones, they sink to the bottom whereas the freeze drieds float. (at leats the ones I've used do)

And yeah, make your tank set up to look similar to his original home. (Lake Wallenpaupack?), and a hidey hole for him to lurk in.

He actually just sits there vertically facing the surface, occasionally swimming around.

Sounds like you really need to get your tank set up. Nothing fancy. Just a sponge filter and an air pump might suffice.

My bullhead chows on everything I toss in the tank. But I'm sure that live food would work for your guy if nothing will do. I wouldn't put a light on his tank either. They hunt best in the dark. watching mine eat it is obvious that he doesn't use sight to find his food. seems it may be stressed out so no light no heat a little live food and good water should solve it.

I've changed the title of this topic to Questions about black or brown bullhead catfish. The original title (Questions about a catfish) was a bit general for this forum...

Jools

I have an extra tank in my front yard, I might set it up someday for a bullhead.