Eating native fish and other invertebrates, the brown bullhead catfish also contributes to poor water quality, exacerbates algal blooms, suspends sediment, and uproots plants. This scaleless dark brown or olive-green fish is identifiable by the eight whiskery barbels around its mouth.
Description
- Can grow up to 50cm long.
- Habitats include lakes, slow-moving water bodies, streams and drainage channels.
What you need to know
Eats fish and invertebrates. Contributes to poor water quality, exacerbates algal blooms, suspends sediment, and uproots plants. Can cause lakes to flip to an alternative state devoid of vegetation, with turbid water-dominated phytoplankton.
Management approach
Community Led
These organisms have not been legally declared as pests but may be of interest to the public as they occur regularly in the environment. They may be capable of causing adverse effects to the values of Waitaha/Canterbury.
You should not distribute or release any brown bullhead catfish into waterways in New Zealand.
Control
Do not attempt to control brown bullhead catfish yourself. Report to us immediately on 0800 324 636.
Brown bullhead catfish
Brown bullhead catfish. Photo credit: Alexei Poletaev
