What is this?

[TRK]

Found this little guy in my scoop of minnows today. Any ideas what species it is? A darter of some sort?

 

[Captain Ahab]

Definitely a darter. Looks like a rainbow darter.

 

[Rowdie]

When seine netting creeks I've got them before. Kept one alive in my aquarium for a while. They use their fins like legs and scoot around on the bottom. I believe rainbow darters is what I came up with when I identified it.

 

[MSA]

Where was this at? I know we have blacksided darters in ND, didnt think we had rainbows.

 

[Sum1]

Neat little fish!

 

[TRK]

I got it from the gas station on the north end of Jamestown. Looking at their range on google looks like it’s a little out of place if it’s a rainbow darter, but that’s sure what it looks like. I might have to go get a small aquarium and keep it around awhile.

 

[Rowdie]

Where was this at? I know we have blacksided darters in ND, didnt think we had rainbows.

We seine in SD, Oak Creek. I have got them in my minnow traps in Sioux Co. though. There are some very weird life in creeks. There is one minnow I'd like to try to keep alive, but they go crazy in the bucket and jump out, or die fast. They have a blue and red stripe down the side.

 

[Achucker]

We seine in SD, Oak Creek. I have got them in my minnow traps in Sioux Co. though. There are some very weird life in creeks. There is one minnow I'd like to try to keep alive, but they go crazy in the bucket and jump out, or die fast. They have a blue and red stripe down the side.

Could be a red belly dace???

 

[camoman]

Iowa darter

- - - Updated - - -

Where was this at? I know we have blacksided darters in ND, didnt think we had rainbows.

In ND we have blacksided, johnny, and iowa darters. I believe there are a few places where you can find logperch (this I know for sure because I've seen many), sand, river, bluntnose, fantail, and banded darters. I believe rainbow darters have been documented in ND, but they are more common to the south.

- - - Updated - - -

We seine in SD, Oak Creek. I have got them in my minnow traps in Sioux Co. though. There are some very weird life in creeks. There is one minnow I'd like to try to keep alive, but they go crazy in the bucket and jump out, or die fast. They have a blue and red stripe down the side.

Northern redbelly dace.

 

[Rowdie]

Yes I believe you are correct on the redbelly dace. I call em "Crazy Minnows" man they go crazy when you first empty your net into buckets. They will fly out quick, or just crash into the sides of a the bucket until they are so stunned they die.

 

[Buckmaster81]

I have seen at least three different kinds of darters (at least I believe all three were darters) in the James River in central ND.

 

[Rowdie]

The minnow in the OP pic is a rainbow darter.....I'll wager $$$

 

[JayKay]

If it were me, I'd get an aquarium and keep that lil guy dancin'. Pretty neat.

 

[camoman]

The minnow in the OP pic is a rainbow darter.....I'll wager $$$

Look at the primary spiny dorsal fin. Cheeks have scales. Iowa darter.

 

[Rowdie]

They hide a lot and stay motionless on the bottom. The fins act like legs though, kinda cool.

 

[guywhofishes]

lack of caudal fin coloring suggests Iowa as well

 

[Captain Ahab]

After careful consideration, I will go with Iowa Darter as well.

 

[MSA]

Oh snap! We got some fish knowledge in tha NDA house.

 

[scrotcaster]

I think what you have is.....a beautiful hand

 

[measure-it]

I agree, it's a man's hand with a little fishy. Look for a Triscuit cracker with a little cracked black pepper--and you've got yourself a tasty little snack.