Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis)

Scientific name: Ameiurus natalis Lesueur, 1819

The Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) is a freshwater fish of the family Ictaluridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 5–15°C (41–59°F).

Yellow bullhead care at a glance

Pools, backwaters, and sluggish current over soft substrate in creeks and small to large rivers; oxbows, ponds, and impoundments.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Scientific name: Ameiurus natalis
Family: Ictaluridae (North American freshwater catfishes)
Order: Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 47.0
Common length: 22.5
Depth range: 10 m (33 ft)
Environment: Freshwater; demersal; depth range 10 - ? m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: North America: Atlantic and Gulf slope drainages from New York to northern Mexico, and St. Lawrence-Great Lakes and Mississippi river basins from southern Quebec west to central North Dakota, and south to the Gulf. At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Potential pest
Uses: Gamefish: yes
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=4; Fec=2,000)

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

Last updated 27 September 2026