Minnow ID

This was part of my sampling report, but Jan wanted these Minnows IDed so I decided to post about it here.

He says these two pics, despite looking different, are the same species. They developed their side stripe after being placed in a tank.

http://forum.nanfa.o...25567065412.jpg

http://forum.nanfa.o...25567067592.jpg

My first thought on looking at the lower of the two pics is Blacknose Dace due to the combination of a black and a yellow stripe. But the upper pic confuses things as, in my experience at least, freshly netted blacknoses keep their stripes under stress.

Jan assumed Bridle Shiner, but given how they are rare and are not supposed to be found in this drainage I doubt it.

Now I am wondering if they could be either Creek Chubs or Fallfish, both of which I sometimes have seen get a dark and light stripe pairing when in a tank. Though in my experience the light stripe on those species is never that bright, and is often short lived (especially in fallfish who usually go back to mostly silver when not in whatever narrow range of conditions get them to darken).

any guesses on the ID of these minnows? I'd appreciate it. (I am wondering if they are juvenile fallfish myself since Jan says both pics are the same fish, despite the latter ones looking ALOT like blacknose dace)

Edited by FirstChAoS, 17 October 2009 - 09:55 PM.

I will go ahead and cast my vote for juvenile common shiner, Luxilus cornutus.

That's what I was thinking, too, but it's pretty hard to tell in the second picture. FirstChAoS, do you have a better in-tank picture?

Brian

That's what I was thinking, too, but it's pretty hard to tell in the second picture. FirstChAoS, do you have a better in-tank picture?

Brian

These are pics from Jan's tank. Jan will need to send me more if he has some.

I think I would go with common shiners as well but it is tuff to be sure from those photos.