We were recently lucky enough to receive some of the bycatch from our area's smelt fisherman and were given what I originally thought was a tadpole madtom. Upon closer inspection, however, I'm thinking that the fish is awfully big for a madtom and may actually be a bullhead, even though we're a little far north for that. Does anyone know of a reliable way to differentiate between tadpole madtoms and bullheads (other than waiting to see if he gets any bigger?).
Thanks!
Barb Nelson
Aquarist
Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, MN
Bullhead or Madtom?
Started by
Guest_glaquarium_*
, May 20 2008 01:15 PM
4 replies to this topic
#4 Guest_glaquarium_*
Posted 20 May 2008 - 06:16 PM
Thanks, that's what I thought - that means we might have another misidentified "madtom" on site, since I was comparing the two and they both have separate adipose fins.
I will try to get a picture of both.
I will try to get a picture of both.
Madtom- adipose fin is fused to back along its entire length, and is often contiguous with caudal fin.
Bullhead- adipose fin is a distinct lobe, separate from caudal fin.
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