Like other bullhead catfish, it has the ability to thrive in waters that are low in oxygen, brackish, turbid, and/or very warm.

[4] Its color depends on the area where it is taken, but it generally is darker than brown or yellow bullheads (A. nebulosus and A. natalis, respectively).

[5] Black bullheads are found throughout the central United States, often in stagnant or slow-moving waters with soft bottoms.

[7] It was only found in one place, Lake Meadows, Billericay, Essex, and they grew to a maximum weight of 1.19 pounds (.539 kg).

[8] Black bullheads are omnivorous, so they eat almost anything, from grains and other plant matter to insects, dead or living fish, and crustaceans.

During the winter, black bullheads decrease food intake, and may stop eating altogether.

However, they have pale flesh and make excellent table fare when water quality is good despite their small size.

As with channel catfish, the flesh around the bellies and gills of larger individuals can be strong tasting due to yellow fat, but these flavors can be avoided by removing the fatty portions of a large specimen when cleaning.

They have been introduced in many areas of the US because of their ability to survive (and even thrive) in less than ideal conditions, but they are seldom used in active stocking programs due to their relatively low desirability.

Black bullheads can be caught using similar techniques as for channel or blue catfish, although their small size may require smaller bait and hooks.

In some areas of little to no fishing pressure, black bullheads have been found to be more aggressive and have been caught while casting and retrieving metal spoon lures.