What is a Hardhead Catfish?
The Hardhead Catfish remains a popular choice among fishermen and aquarists alike. They are plentiful in the world, leading to harvests every year that can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and are not expensive to purchase as a pet. These fish have characteristics about them that make everyone a fan.
Origin
Hardhead catfish are known as sea catfish. They are not from lakes and rivers, but instead, they are from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. This is where they originate from, and it is where they still call home.
Characteristics
Their long body with a complete lack of scales makes them a favorite and frustration. Fish owners appreciate the aesthetic appeal, but fishermen often do not feel the same way. Because they do not have scales, these fish are covered with a layer of mucus. When they steal a fishermen’s bait, they are known for leaving a trail of slime along the line that must be cleaned off before a person can resume fishing.
Although the Hardhead catfish can grow quite large with a length of over two feet and a weight of approximately twelve pounds, it is known for being a peaceful fish. It will not attack other fish or people.
Diet
A varies diet means that these fish will take almost whatever bait is dangled in front of them. Smaller Hardheads enjoy eating more vegetable matter and algae, but they are known to consume smaller fish. This is primarily because their size does not allow them to eat larger fish yet. Once they become adults, their diet consists mainly of fish with the occasional plant or shrimp for a small snack.
In Captivity
Although these fish are not popular among aquarists, there are still a few that find them adorable and enjoy their peaceful nature. Their difficulty being kept is one of the reasons that they are not usually the first choice for aquariums. Due to their size, they cannot be contained in a standard aquarium. Instead, Hardhead catfish will need to have at least 150 gallons to ensure that they have plenty of room to swim in.
Aquarium owners will also need to keep in mind that these fish have very specific preferences regarding the temperature and pH level of the water. It is vital to do a significant amount of research on these fish to ensure that they are happy.
On the positive side, Hardhead catfish do make exceptional tank mates. They are not aggressive and will not attack larger fish. Aquarists are advised not to home them with smaller fish as they will more than likely eat them, however.
Hardhead catfish have a home in the sea, on the dinner table and in large aquariums. Fishermen often complain that they are hard to clean, but there are plenty of people that enjoy the taste to make it well worth the hassle. Monster fish keepers enjoy an affordable fish to add to their collection too. It doesn’t matter why you like to fish, you’re going to enjoy the Hardhead catfish.
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