Description
Tadpole Madtom – Noturus gyrinus – to 3.5″ (8.89 cm)
The native range of this species in the wild consists of the freshwaters of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the continental U.S., as well as the Great Lakes watershed of the U.S. and Canada. There is also a disjunct population in the Oregon/Wyoming area. In these areas, Tadpole Madtoms are found primarily in medium to large rivers, and in association with thick vegetation or organic debris.
In the aquarium, they are retiring inhabitants. They will hide much of the time during the day, but may be trained to come out of hiding for food.
These are semi-community fishes. They can be kept in groups ranging from all males to all females, and any combination in between! Please note, though, that they do have somewhat large mouths for their small size and will not hesitate to eat nearby small-enough fishes. Because these guys are so small, though, that is not a huge problem. It’s just something to be aware of. They can be kept peacefully with just about any other fish in the aquarium, including: darters, small catfish, other minnows and many, many tropical and cool-water aquarium fishes, provided they are not small enough to be eaten.
Care Requirements:
Temperature Tolerance Range: 32-78°F (0-25.6°C.)
Preferred Temperature Range: 72-76°F (22.2-24.4°C) (room temperature water.)
Water Hardness: Medium to Hard.
Type of Tank Setup: Freshwater (cold) or Freshwater (tropical) / Species or Community.
Food: Live or frozen (may acclimate to flake).
Swimming Level: Bottom.
Parasite Pre-Treated?: Yes. All wild-collected fish have been parasite pre-treated for internal and external parasites.
Special Requirements: None. Treat as you would any standard tropical fish.
Notes: Tadpole Madtoms are OK to keep with mid-water to top-water fishes, and other fishes too, provided they are not small enough to be eaten. Also note that madtoms do not take salt treatments well.
