Some of you rabble have been around long enough to recall that I bought a bristle-nose catfish many moons ago, and named him Watson. Here’s what he looked like then:
He’s the white-spotted comma shape on the plastic wood. You may notice there’s no bristles on his nose. That’s because he was too young, and of indeterminate gender. Only the male bristlenoses actually have bristles on their noses, and only when they’re above a certain age.
Turns out that “certain age” is now. I noticed a lump on his face and wondered if he was sick. Upon closer examination, the truth became clear: Watson is male. My little catfish is becoming a man.
You can’t actually see the bristles in these photos, but they’re there. Trust me.
