Campostoma anomalum

This minnow is characteristic of headwater creeks and small to medium rivers with cool clear water, moderate or sometimes rapid current, and gravel or rubble bottoms; it commonly occurs in pools with current, riffles of small rocky streams; also in medium to large rivers, and sometimes in slow-moving, turbid water (Lee et al. 1980, Sublette et al. 1990, Page and Burr 2011). Individuals may congregate under stones or debris in winter. It is rare in lakes. Spawning occurs in nests made by males in riffles or gravel-bottomed pools, typically in shallow portions of streams near deep pools(Sublette et al. 1990). Eggs are covered with sand and fine gravel. This fish will use the nests of other cyprinids.

May occur in schools of thousands. Largest populations are in areas with few or no predators (e.g., bass) (Sublette et al. 1990). Can strongly affect the distribution and standing crop of attached algae in streams (see Matthews and Heins 1987).

Spawns mid-April to early June in New York, May in Ontario. Eggs hatch in 2-4 days. Sexually mature in 2nd or 3rd year in Michigan and probably Ontario, usually 3rd or 4th year in North Carolina. Nesting communal with some territoriality (males cooperate in building groups of nests, Sublette et al. 1990).