NANFA-- Madtom Mania

Denkhaus, Robert (DenkhaR_at_Ci.Fort-Worth.TX.US)
Thu, 7 Jun 2001 16:46:01 -0500

While some aquatic ecology programs the past three days, our kid
participants have had the great luck to happen across a relatively large
number of madtoms while dipnetting. The kids have only caught one adult but
have caught dozens of what I imagine are young of the year. The young are
about 1/2 to 5/8 inch long while the adult is approximately 4 inches. I
haven't had time to accurately identify any of them but the area is where I
typically catch a few freckled madtoms each year. We have kept 15 of the
young and the adult and I intend to raise them for one of our upcoming
exhibits. The kids have been thrilled to find them and amazed at such small
catfish...what a great experience for them! My 10 year old daughter was the
first to catch one of the young and I am proud to say that she was able to
identify it as a madtom immediately!

Rob Denkhaus
Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
"El muerto a la sepultura, el vivo a la travesura"
"The dead to burial, the living to mischief"

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