Red Shiner (Notropis lutrensis) Care Guide
Notropis lutrensis is a hardy North American minnow, valid as Cyprinella lutrensis, with breeding males showing a red flush.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The red shiner is a hardy North American minnow. Its name Notropis lutrensis is treated by FishBase as the valid species Cyprinella lutrensis. Breeding males develop a red flush over the body and fins. It is a temperate, schooling species suited to cooler aquaria.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cyprinidae
- Genus: Notropis
- Scientific name: Notropis lutrensis
- Accepted name (FishBase): Cyprinella lutrensis
Habitat
According to FishBase the species is native to the Mississippi River basin from southwestern Wisconsin and eastern Indiana to Wyoming and south to Louisiana, and to Gulf drainages west of the Mississippi to the Rio Grande in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. Adults inhabit silty, sandy and rocky creeks and small to medium rivers, tolerating siltation and high turbidity. It has been widely introduced elsewhere in the USA.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 10-24 °C (50-75 °F)
- pH: 6.5-8.5
- GH: 8-20 °dGH
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
The red shiner is an omnivore. FishBase reports it feeds on terrestrial and aquatic insects and algae. In aquaria it accepts prepared, live and frozen foods, fed about twice daily.
Compatibility
This is an active, peaceful schooling species. It is best kept with other cool-water fish and should not be combined with tropical species that require consistently warm water.
Breeding
The species is an egg-scatterer with intermediate breeding difficulty, as recorded for the genus.
Conservation status
The IUCN Red List assesses Cyprinella lutrensis as Least Concern (assessed 27 February 2019).
Breeding Red Shiner
Overview
The Red Shiner (Notropis lutrensis, also placed in the genus Cyprinella) is a hardy North American cyprinid. It is a flexible spawner that uses crevices as well as broadcasting eggs, and breeding males develop intense coloration. It is regarded as a species of special concern where it has been introduced.
Sexing
During the breeding season males are vividly coloured, showing iridescent pink-purple-blue sides and a red crown and fins, while the dorsal fin remains dark. These nuptial colours make breeding males readily distinguishable from females.
Breeding Setup
Provide rocks and crevices alongside open substrate and vegetation, since the species both deposits eggs in crevices and attaches them to rocks or plants. A cool temperate tank suits this fish. The spawning season generally runs from mid-April through September.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
In addition to spawning in crevices like other members of Cyprinella, Red Shiners also broadcast their eggs and attach them to rocks or vegetation. Spawning is highly productive: females can release up to 16 batches per day with up to 71 eggs per batch.
Egg & Fry Care
Fecundity is high, with an average clutch size of 585 eggs and five to 19 clutches in a single reproductive season. The adults provide no parental care, so eggs and fry should be separated from broodstock to limit predation.