2 replies to this topic

[Moontanman]

I just noticed that the biggest yellow bullhead in my tank has had something bite him on the head! A large bite mark on the left side of his head looks like one of his tank mates got a bit peckish with him, the only fish big enough is a brown bullhead about half again as long but until now all the bullheads have acted like they loved each other. The small fish is about 5" long and the brown is about 8" long. Anyone else had this problem? maybe a love bite? 

[lilyea]

I just noticed that the biggest yellow bullhead in my tank has had something bite him on the head! A large bite mark on the left side of his head looks like one of his tank mates got a bit peckish with him, the only fish big enough is a brown bullhead about half again as long but until now all the bullheads have acted like they loved each other. The small fish is about 5" long and the brown is about 8" long. Anyone else had this problem? maybe a love bite? 

 

I have kept bullhead in a 80g, a 150g, and a 600 gallon pond over the course of several years.  I haven't found significant physical damage to be normal, but I have had it happen.  I can only remember one bullhead lost from physical damage and I have had to separate two others at various times over the years.  Although this is purely anecdotal, I have bred FL brown bullhead and I don't remember them being any more aggressive when breeding than at any other point.  I suspect that the action that you describe was, as you suggested, about establishing a pecking order.

[itsme]

Yeah, I've seen this.  Bullheads are territorial when confined together.  They have strong jaws and will leave marks on one another.