Brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus)

Scientific name: Ameiurus nebulosus Lesueur, 1819

The Brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) is a freshwater fish of the family Ictaluridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 37°C (99°F).

Brown bullhead care at a glance

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-7; Anal spines: 1. Caudal fin with 18-19 rays.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Scientific name: Ameiurus nebulosus
Family: Ictaluridae (North American freshwater catfishes)
Order: Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 55.0
Common length: 25.0
Depth range: 40 m (131 ft)
Environment: Freshwater; brackish; demersal; depth range ? - 40 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: North America: Atlantic and Gulf Slope drainages from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada to Mobile Bay in Alabama in USA, and St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay and Mississippi River basins from Quebec west to Saskatchewan in Canada and south to Louisiana, USA. Introduced into several countries. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction. Asia: Iran and Turkey.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Potential pest
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.47; tm=3; tmax=8)

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026