Throughout the Mississippi River system and Gulf coast drainage's from Alabama to the Rio Grande.

HABITS:

Large benthic feeding fish receiving much nourishment from detritus, mollusks, amphipods, and aquatic insects and vegetation. The name is significant of the large bump on the back and rounded elliptical shape of the fish.

SPAWNING:

Spawning of buffalo occurs from late April until June. A 14-lb female has been known to produce as many as 750,000 adhesive eggs, which attach to plants and debris. Eggs hatch after 10 days at temperatures of 62 degrees Fahrenheit.

GROWTH:

The buffalo fish may reach 80 lbs. in southern states and can live for 20 years. Typical marketed weight is 2-7 lbs.

USES:

No real market exists for the buffalo fish but fish easily adapt to ponds, grow rapidly, mature young, and have high fecundity. Commercial production in species has ended.

CULTURE:

Broodfish are placed in "wintering ponds" right before spawning. Fish produce a substance that inhibits breeding (based on stocking density). When water temperatures have risen to 18-21 degrees Celsius fish are transferred to spawning ponds. Reduced density and clean water trigger spawning. Hatching occurs a week later. After 2 weeks feeding of fry in fertilize ponds begins. When fish reach 12 to 40 mm they are transferred to nursery ponds. Then they are moved again to a grow-out pond for market when they reach 2.5 kg for market.

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