Mad Toms:
COMMON NAME(S):
•   Madtoms
•   Stone Catfish

LATIN NAME:
•   Noturus sp.
•   N._elegans
•   N._flavater
•   N._flavus
•   N._insignis
•   N_miurus
•   N._stigmosus

pH:
•   7

WATER TEMP:
•   66-74 deg. F.

AVG. MAX. SIZE:
•   8+ inches / 18 cm.

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED TANK SIZE:
•   Do not place in tanks smaller than 60 gallons per pair.

BREEDING:
•   Egg-layers.

FEEDING:
•   Mainly Flake, pellet and live foods.

NOTE:
•   Likes lots of flowing water, best kept with power heads.

LIGHTING:
•   The darker the better.

TEMPERAMENT:
•   Peaceful, very good community fish. May eat smaller inhabitants.

COMMENTS:
•   Stone cat (Noturus flavus) The stone cat is one of the smallest members of the catfish family, averaging 6 to 8 inches, with a maximum length of 12 inches. Stone cats are similar in appearance to madtoms, but differ from madtoms by having a protruding upper jaw and a slight notch in their tail. The stone cat (Noturus flavus) is common in the Allegheny system and tributaries of Lake Erie; it occurs along the coastal plain of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River system; and it is scattered through the Mohawk system.

•   Stone cats are usually found under or among rocks in the swift water of streams, especially in riffle areas. They also are found in weedy water near shore or in the mud at the mouth of streams.

•   CAUTION! These fish have poison glands at the bases of their pectoral and dorsal fin spines. If the spines should prick your skin, the poison runs down the spine and into the wound, resulting in a painful sensation similar to a wasp sting. Stone cats are tenacious of life and make good bass bait. They are of no real food or sport value, but are interesting members of the catfish family.