What is this?

This was caught in a higher elevation stream in North East Georgia. ( Eton Georgia ) . I thought it would be a give away when I checked the field guide but I could not figure it out. I will read and look some more but mean while will the experts out there tell me what this is. Lots of horny protuberances on head to beggining of dorsal fin. Spot near base of tail looks more black than blue. Choppy black lateral line. Anal fins are a beutiful iridescent white. The dorsal is a blue white color very flashy. Photos do not do this fish justice. Appreciate the help.

Daniel

Looks like an Alabama shiner to me.

This was caught in a higher elevation stream in North East Georgia. ( Eton Georgia ) . I thought it would be a give away when I checked the field guide but I could not figure it out. I will read and look some more but mean while will the experts out there tell me what this is. Lots of horny protuberances on head to beggining of dorsal fin. Spot near base of tail looks more black than blue. Choppy black lateral line. Anal fins are a beutiful iridescent white. The dorsal is a blue white color very flashy. Photos do not do this fish justice. Appreciate the help.

Daniel

Check out Ocmulgee shiner, Cyprinella callisema, as a possibility.

Fritz, good point. I didn't even think outside the Upper Coosa drainage...

Thanks guys. But their are so many photos taken at different times of year that is if very hard to nail down. But try "tri color shiner". I believe that is what this beauty is.

This would be a tricolor shiner : http://gallery.nanfa...G_3113.JPG.html

That is not a tricolor. It is either an Alabama or an Ocmulgee. I don't currently have the distribution map in front of me. It sure looks exactly like some Alabama shiners we just caught a couple of weeks ago.

It sure looks exactly like some Alabama shiners we just caught a couple of weeks ago.

Alabama shiner : http://gallery.nanfa.../1 188.jpg.html

NatureServe lists the Ocmulgee shiner as common in the Altamaha drainage, and uncommon in the Ogeechee, and that's about it for species range. Google is unable to find a picture of the species. But even so I'd say the fish in the original picture is a male Alabama shiner in peak spawning condition, especially because the collection site is probably close to Chatt.

Casper and I saw a plethora of Alabama's and Tri-colors a month ago in the Conasauga and that is dead on for an Alabama. Note the 'dirty' appearance of the scales from the tip of the pectoral fin to the dorsal fin. Color and margins on dorsal fin also looks right to me for an Alabama. Tri-colors don't have any of those characteristics (different dorsal pattern) and seem to be a bit smaller and not as high.

Well I cannot say I am convinced yet. The reading I Have done says the breeding male Dorsal of the Alabama is pink to red with a black trailing edge. I made my decision after looking at Dr. Azelrods book on freshwater fish about six inches thick. After looking at the four specimens I caught it seems as though I may have one alabama and three tricolor. But I am not convinced because of the smaller nature of the one I am calling an alabama. The smaller one does have the dark edge on the rear half of the dorsal with the pink to red on the rest of dorsal like the book says. The other three are this brialliant blue with neon white outline. I will do more reading and research because of my head of stone once I think I am right, and I did a fair amount of reserch before deciding. But I still agree to disagree at least with the one I photographed. Maybe I will try to get a photo of the other one that looks like more or what you read and not see. It does seem to have a more distinct lateral line. I will go back now and start all over. As you can see I am not one to settle for half truths. Not that fish has anthing to do with truth but that is the man I am. Thanks for the stimulation, and now I have to go for I have more studying to do.

Appreciate the help.
Daniel

Moderator thanks for posting so quickly for me. I went back and now I am more convinced that I have two species. Like I said photos do not do a fish justice and it depends on where the fish comes from also. I believe I have one alabama and three tricolor and the photo posted is the tricolor. I will try to get side by side comparison photos. Like I said photos do not catch things as true as the eye. Be patient and I think you will come to the same conclusion. I will like I said try to photograph the two side by side but I am convinced by the reading that the one in my photo is a tricolor for it is the alabama that has the black trailing edge and the redish to pink dorsal and the tricolor has the blue dorsal with white outline. At least with the material I have. Photos comming soon.

Thanks for your help

Daniel

Looking at the two links, drews link looks like my tricolors and the other looks like the alabama I have. So which photo do we believe. See what I mean. I will do a comparison photo for you guys to continue to help me out.

Thanks.
Daniel

Ooppsss looks like drew put both up and both are correct. I have two species. The alabama is the one I posted first. I get confused. But alls well ends well. Learning is painful when head is hard. Thanks for taking time to hash it out with me.

Here is the photo. Did in a hurry but you can see the difference. If you want a book with superior photos buy Dr, Axelrod's book of freshwater Aquarium fishes. It says fresh water but it has tropicals and natives. It is like over one hundred dollars but for starting a amazon account with card and all and a discount they ran I think I got the price down to thirty bucks.

The tricolor is on the left and the alabama is on the right. Cymprinella Trichraistia left Cymprinella Callistia right.

Moderator thanks for posting so quickly for me. I went back and now I am more convinced that I have two species. Like I said photos do not do a fish justice and it depends on where the fish comes from also. I believe I have one alabama and three tricolor and the photo posted is the tricolor. I will try to get side by side comparison photos. Like I said photos do not catch things as true as the eye. Be patient and I think you will come to the same conclusion. I will like I said try to photograph the two side by side but I am convinced by the reading that the one in my photo is a tricolor for it is the alabama that has the black trailing edge and the redish to pink dorsal and the tricolor has the blue dorsal with white outline. At least with the material I have. Photos comming soon.

Thanks for your help

Daniel

Seems I need to edit this one. I have one tricolor and three Alabama shiners. The alabama has that neon bueish white dorsal with a white edge running from the top rear to the back of it down to the body. The Tricolor has red tips on his lower fins. But the first photo I ever posted was of the Alabama shiner.

Looks like an Alabama shiner to me.

Andit looks like you are right !!

Casper and I saw a plethora of Alabama's and Tri-colors a month ago in the Conasauga and that is dead on for an Alabama. Note the 'dirty' appearance of the scales from the tip of the pectoral fin to the dorsal fin. Color and margins on dorsal fin also looks right to me for an Alabama. Tri-colors don't have any of those characteristics (different dorsal pattern) and seem to be a bit smaller and not as high.

Thanks for the info. Parts of the conasauga are trout waters but most of it are not. I caught these in a higher elevation stream that was trout water. I caught them with rod and reel. You would not believe what I catch on rod and reel. Number Ten dry fly streamer hook or something like that. Smaller than a number ten aberdeen. I always have fun explaining to people that ask are you doing any good. Then I show them what I have in my bucket. Caught some black tails and white spotted tails or something like that last week on rod and reel also.

Thanks for the info. Parts of the conasauga are trout waters but most of it are not. I caught these in a higher elevation stream that was trout water. I caught them with rod and reel. You would not believe what I catch on rod and reel. Number Ten dry fly streamer hook or something like that. Smaller than a number ten aberdeen. I always have fun explaining to people that ask are you doing any good. Then I show them what I have in my bucket. Caught some black tails and white spotted tails or something like that last week on rod and reel also.

sounds cool
btw which axlrod do you have I have 2 of huge 1000+ paged books and about 10 of his little starter books

Anyone has pic of Ocmulgee shiner then?

Maybe I will have to go back and catch one of those Ocomul------ whatever. Probably has one up there too. This stream I found out though while driving up there and asking a fellow if this was trout water he said yes. I have a Georgia Liscence so I decided to give it a go. I fished with rod and reel. Well I am assuming you need a trout stamp in Georgia but I really do not know. I went down the stream since everyone I saw seemed to not know how to fish for trout I decided to pull over and one after the other came these bueauties. I got out of there for the back of my head was saying trouble trouble trouble. No trout stamp even though I was not fishing for trout. I could have brought a bunch back. Better this way because I am a sunfish man anyway.

Then if I do catch a ocomu--- what ever I can get more lousy photos taken in a hurry. I have been busy trying to get photos out for paying customers and have been bogged down. I think I will scratch this paying hobby photography thing off of my to do list and start enjoying photography like I used to.

Daniel