By 2007, NCWRC started revisiting historical sites and found that the Neuse River basin had experienced dramatic losses, with only two localities continuing to support Carolina Madtoms. Thankfully, the Tar River basin population fared much better, with healthy populations persisting at most of the historical sites surveyed.

In 2018, NCWRC contacted CFI for assistance in restoring the Carolina Madtom, particularly in the Neuse River drainage. During our efforts, the last two fish found from the Neuse River were transported to CFI, but both turned out to be males. Unfortunately, despite attempts to initiate breeding with Tar River females, the pairings  were unsuccessful. One male has since passed away, leaving only a single known male of this lineage. We continue to hope that undiscovered populations might still exist in the Neuse River system. Meanwhile, CFI has successfully bred and raised hundreds of Carolina Madtoms from the Tar River basin, which have been stocked into tributaries for further conservation efforts.

The Carolina Madtom’s scientific name, Noturus furiosus, aptly reflects its feisty nature. As with other madtoms, they possess venomous spines in their pectoral fins that can deliver a painful sting, much like a bee sting, hence the “furiosus” name.

Carolina Madtoms prefer medium to large streams and rivers with moderate gradients, particularly riffles, runs, and pools. They thrive in habitats with stable, silt-free substrates such as gravel and cobble, and they require natural cover for nest sites—such as rocks, bark, and relic mussel shells. Due to the rarity of this specific habitat, NC State University designed "Madtom Motels," artificial nest structures that have been successfully used by Carolina Madtoms in the wild.

Male Carolina Madtoms display remarkable paternal instincts. In the wild and at CFI, males take on protective roles, guarding their eggs and larvae beneath rocks and other cover for extended periods—sometimes up to a month. In our facility, we provide specialized shelters, such as plant pot saucers, where males tend to their nests. During this time the males often fast, but they have been observed using a unique feeding behavior: spinning rapidly to create a suction force that helps them draw food under the saucer.

Interestingly, while rare, males may resort to eating their own eggs as a survival strategy when they perceive a threat to the nest, preferring to consume the calories rather than lose them to a predator after weeks of tending the eggs without food. One of our male madtoms, affectionately nicknamed "Hannibal" in 2021, was particularly quick to eat his eggs when his nest was disturbed. These behaviors highlight the challenges madtoms face in ensuring their survival, and they also emphasize the extraordinary paternal care exhibited by this species.

At CFI, we’ve found that allowing the males to care for the eggs until just before or just after hatching yields the best results for propagation, ensuring that the baby madtoms have the best start possible.