Semotilus atromaculatus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Semotilus atromaculatus |
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The creek chub (scientific name: Semotilus atromaculatus) is a small freshwater fish. It is a type of minnow found in rivers and streams across the eastern United States and Canada. Creek chubs usually have a dark brown body. They also have a black line that runs horizontally along their side.
These fish can grow to be about 2 to 6 inches long. Some bigger ones can even reach up to 12 inches! The name Semotilus comes from a Greek word meaning "dorsal fin." The word atromaculatus comes from Latin and means "black spots."
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Where Creek Chubs Live
The creek chub is a tough fish that can live in many different places. You can find them in the eastern two-thirds of the United States. They also live in southeastern Canada. These fish can quickly adjust to different environments. They can also eat many kinds of food.
Creek chubs are common around the Great Lakes, including Wisconsin and Minnesota. However, their numbers have been going down in these areas. Even so, they are still found in many small and medium rivers and streams.
Creek chubs love small streams. They often hide among weeds to feel safe from predators. They can live over many different types of stream bottoms. These include gravel, sand, mud, and even large rocks. They prefer streams and rivers much more than lakes. Out of many creek chubs caught, only a few were found in lakes.
What Creek Chubs Look Like
The creek chub is a small fish with a greenish-brown back. Its sides are cream-colored with black stripes from its nose to its tail. Its belly is white. This fish has a round body that gets flatter towards the tail.
Male creek chubs are usually about 5 inches long. Females are a bit smaller, around 4 inches long. Their mouth is large and located at the front, right under their eyes. This helps them eat whatever is directly in front of them.
Creek chubs can sometimes have slightly different colors. Some might have black backs with brown or yellowish lines in the middle. The average chub is about 5 to 7 inches long. The longest one ever recorded was almost 8 inches! You can tell them apart from other minnows by a black "moustache" on their upper lip. They also have a black dot on their dorsal fin (the fin on their back). Young male chubs develop a pinkish band on their sides. Their dorsal fin spots also become shiny and dark.
Creek Chub Life Cycle
The scales of the creek chub are special. They help the fish move and stay safe. Scales don't appear until the fish is about 1 inch long. Young chubs, around 1.2 inches long, have small scales.
Creek chubs grow a lot during their first year. They can grow more than 2 to 3 inches in just one year. Male chubs grow much faster than females. They become adults when they are about one to one and a half years old.
The main scales on a creek chub are thin and flexible. These help them move easily in the water. They also have smooth scales that help them glide through the water. Other scales are like flexible bone plates. These act like armor, protecting the fish from predators.
How Creek Chubs Behave
Creek chubs act differently at different ages. They usually swim in groups called schools. They stay in schools from when they are born until they are older. They often hang out at the edges of calm pools in streams.
These fish can live in water temperatures up to 32°C (90°F). They can also survive in water as cold as 1.7°C (35°F). When they are young, creek chubs are careful. They don't like to leave their known area. A school of young chubs will stay within a 50-meter (164-foot) area. This helps them stay safe from unknown dangers and predators.
As creek chubs grow, they start to travel outside their usual area. They can become aggressive with other chubs. If another chub enters their territory, they will show aggressive behavior. They might swim next to each other, spread their fins, and open their mouths wide. The stronger fish will then try to hit the other fish's head. This helps them show who is in charge and make intruders leave.
In some areas, like central Ohio, creek chubs are the main fish in small creeks. This is because bigger fish like bass cannot live there. Creek chubs can be found in larger creeks and rivers too. But there, they are not as common because bigger fish might eat them.
You can catch creek chubs with small hooks and pieces of worms. They eat in groups during the day. At first, they will quickly grab the bait. But if several chubs are caught, the others become careful. They might just nibble or avoid the bait. You can also catch them in minnow traps using dry dog food.
Creek chubs are strong little fish. They are easy to catch in small creeks and can be kept in aquariums. They are also used as bait for bigger fish like bass and catfish. Since creek chubs do not have sharp spines on their fins, they are a favorite food for fish that eat smaller fish.
What Creek Chubs Eat
The creek chub is an "opportunist" and a carnivore. This means it eats many different things to survive. They eat other small fish, insect parts, and plants. They also eat small creatures like amphipods. Their diet includes different types of insect larvae and adult insects like beetles and flies.
What they eat depends on the specific creek or river they live in. Young chubs actively feed in the early morning. They look for small creatures in the water. Adult chubs don't start eating until the afternoon. They are never seen eating before 11:00 AM. Fish often wait until the water temperature is at its warmest for the day before leaving their hiding spots. Large chubs will actively search for food for 1 to 2 hours. Then they wait to eat things that float by in the water.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Male creek chubs travel to a special area to reproduce. The male builds a nesting site to attract females. This is usually a small pit with tiny pebbles. These pebbles help protect the eggs. When a female enters the nest, the male wraps around her. The eggs are then fertilized, and the female leaves. About 25 to 30 eggs are released each time. Often, many chubs use the same nesting sites. The male controls and protects this area from other fish.
During the breeding season, male chubs grow small, hard bumps on their heads. These are called tubercles. They use these bumps in special fights with other males. These fights are usually not dangerous. They are just used to scare away other males from the shared nesting sites.
Predators and Protection
Many animals hunt the creek chub. These include birds like loons and kingfishers. Other fish like brown trout, northern pike, and smallmouth bass also eat them. Viruses can also infect creek chubs and lower their numbers. Also, other animals like trout and other chubs compete with them for food.
People have found that managing creek chubs in small ponds can work. If the pond has flowing water, it gives the chubs the right environment to live and grow.
Images for kids
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A creek chub in its natural habitat.
See also
In Spanish: Semotilus atromaculatus para niños
