Javascript Disabled Detected

You currently have javascript disabled. Several functions may not work. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.

Brown or Flat bullhead?

Started by Guest_AOmonsta_* , Jan 22 2011 09:10 PM

Please log in to reply

16 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_AOmonsta_*

Guests

Posted 22 January 2011 - 09:10 PM

Not too good at Iding these guys yet. Caught in NW Sc.

http://i53.tinypic.com/23sivq1.jpg

Not exactly how to post pics here.

Back to top

#2 Guest_EricaWieser_*

Guests

Posted 22 January 2011 - 09:28 PM

First off, I'm not a catfish expert. But I do have google image search. When I compare your fish to photos online, what you have looks more like the flat bullhead than the brown bullhead.

Images used to compare:
Flat bullhead: http://www.flmnh.ufl...tycephalus2.jpg
Brown bullhead: http://www.flmnh.ufl...wnbullhead2.JPG

Both are found in Northwest South Carolina. Range info:
http://www.flmnh.ufl...latbullhead.htm
http://tolweb.org/Am...nebulosus/69828

There's more info on flat bullheaded catfish here: http://www.planetcat...species_id=1077

Edited by EricaWieser, 22 January 2011 - 09:37 PM.

Back to top

#3 Guest_Drew_*

Guests

Posted 22 January 2011 - 09:52 PM

It appears part of Fritz's book is on Google Books and fortunately for you, the part you need is available. Check out the key for catfishes on page 216.

http://books.google....epage&q&f=false

Back to top

#4 Guest_gerald_*

Guests

Posted 23 January 2011 - 12:21 PM

The dark base of dorsal fin indicates it's either flat or snail bullhead, not a brown. If both are known to occur in that river system, then barbel color will distinguish between them.

Back to top

#5 Guest_Dustin_*

Guests

Posted 23 January 2011 - 04:01 PM

I agree with Gerald that it is obviously either a flat or snail based on the dorsal blotch. You can use barbel colorations, as well as profile and anal fin shape to distinguish between the two. Without seeing the barbels and having an odd shot of the anal fin, the fish appears to be a snail based on the profile alone.

Back to top

#6 Guest_AOmonsta_*

Guests

Posted 23 January 2011 - 04:19 PM

I've read snail have little to no mottling, this one has a lot. Here's some pics after settled in tank:

http://i51.tinypic.com/o88egi.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/usggp.jpg

Thanks for the help.

Back to top

#7 Guest_Dustin_*

Guests

Posted 23 January 2011 - 08:11 PM

Snails can have quite a bit of mottling as well and I still contend that your fish is a snail.

Back to top

#8 Guest_UncleWillie_*

Guests

Posted 23 January 2011 - 10:34 PM

I'm pretty much with everyone else. Sure looks like a snail to me. I have 2 small ones right now, but have caught dozens of adults in the last year. Here is a pic of one with his head all swollen up. You can see plenty of mottling here too.
Posted Image

Back to top

#9 Guest_AOmonsta_*

Guests

Posted 24 January 2011 - 09:59 PM

Thanks people. How do you post pics directly to the site?

Back to top

#10 Guest_EricaWieser_*

Guests

Posted 25 January 2011 - 12:03 AM

Thanks people. How do you post pics directly to the site?

You can do any and all of the following:
1. Upload your photo directly to the post as an attachment. If you do this, non-forum members won't be able to see your photo. Also, you should reduce the size of the image before attaching it to around 700 x 700 pixels or less. I'm not sure if this method is limited to NANFA members only or not.
2. Join NANFA and get a user account on our gallery, gallery.nanfa.org. You can upload photos to your gallery and it will give you a hyperlink for each image to copy and paste into your post.
3. Host the image file on a photo hosting server, for example photobucket.com, and copy and paste the image's hyperlink into the post.

Edited by EricaWieser, 25 January 2011 - 12:06 AM.

Back to top

#11 Guest_AOmonsta_*

Guests

Posted 25 January 2011 - 09:32 AM

Thanks. I may not have as many posting options because I'm on my phone.

Back to top

#12 Guest_dmarkley_*

Guests

Posted 25 January 2011 - 03:03 PM

I'm pretty much with everyone else. Sure looks like a snail to me. I have 2 small ones right now, but have caught dozens of adults in the last year. Here is a pic of one with his head all swollen up. You can see plenty of mottling here too.

OK, I'll bite (bad pun): Why is his head all swollen up? Did you beat him?

Dean

Back to top

#13 Guest_AOmonsta_*

Guests

Posted 04 March 2011 - 10:48 PM

Another Bullhead id. I'm thinking this one is a flat. I've noticed that snail have all black eyes and flat do not. Is this the case?

Posted Image

This guys head is much larger than the one in the original first post.

Back to top

#14 Guest_CATfishTONY_*

Guests

Posted 05 March 2011 - 07:28 AM

[quote name='AOmonsta' timestamp='1299296880' post='86743']
Another Bullhead id. I'm thinking this one is a flat. I've noticed that snail have all black eyes and flat do not. Is this the case?

This guys head is much larger than the one in the original first post.

[/quote
you can not always go by head size, but i have noticed in male catfish in general the males have more muscle in the head area.
another tip that may help you is location snails like riffles and flats like more calm water with mud and rocks in general.
The anal fin will have 17-20 rays on a snail bullhead.
but The anal fin will show more 21-24 rays on a flat bullhead.bicolor maxillary barbels with white on the chin.
population reported numbers show flat bullhead to be uncommon in your area.
this doesn't mean your not catching them just lower numbers.
on a side note as time goes on you will see these smaller bullheads vanish as the flathead catfish will feed heavily on these smaller bullhead species. in your area this fish is nonnative.

Edited by CATfishTONY, 05 March 2011 - 07:32 AM.

Back to top

#15 Guest_AOmonsta_*

Guests

Posted 05 March 2011 - 12:18 PM

Thanks for all the info, but according to planet catfish website, under Type Locality it has Anderson, SC and that's where I live and caught it. I was a little stunned seeing that.

http://www.planetcat...species_id=1077

Back to top

#16 Guest_AOmonsta_*

Guests

Posted 06 March 2011 - 08:58 PM

Bump

Back to top

#17 Guest_gerald_*

Guests

Posted 07 March 2011 - 12:46 PM

You need to check barbel pigment and anal fin shape & rays. Get Rohde's new SC Freshwater Fishes Book.
Mottling and eye size are not reliable for distinguishing snail vs flat. Both are widespread in western SC.