Redside Shiner

Redside shiners (Richardsonius balteatus) get their name from the appearance of the male fish during spawning. During this time the male's side scales turn both shiny red and yellow in color. Normal coloring of the redside shiners are brown on the back with a dark band from their snout to their tail fin. A lighter narrower stripe sits above that. Its lower sides are silver with a reddish hue. They are a thin fish, with a forked tail, and a dorsal fin that is set much further back than most fish (View Picture). They are a type of minnow that reside from British Columbia down to Oregon and east to the Rocky Mountains. They prefer ponds, lakes and slow moving waters that are cold and clear. These fish feed on plankton in their early age and switch to an insect and snail diet later. They average 4-5 in. in length and can reach up to 7 inches. Some fisheries find this species to be a nuisance. They have the ability to outcompete trout species for acquisition of both food and space.

References

Idaho Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. Retrieved November 21, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://www.idahoafs.org/fishes.php?id=24

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Retrieved November 20, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://fwp.mt.gov/fieldguide/detail_AFCJB39010.aspx