Minnow Identification

[jighead]

Minnow Identification

I found about two dozen of these minnows in our alfalfa field about 50 feet from a 1/4 acre pond on our property. They were in some shallow runoff, all alive. I had thought all the bass had been killed a few years back with the hard winter. Anyway, are the silver ones bass? What are the dark minnows? We never stocked anything but bass in there that I can remember. Very curious as to what these are. 

[Mark Fitzy]

5 minutes ago, jighead said:

Minnow Identification

I found about two dozen of these minnows in our alfalfa field about 50 feet from a 1/4 acre pond on our property. They were in some shallow runoff, all alive. I had thought all the bass had been killed a few years back with the hard winter. Anyway, are the silver ones bass? What are the dark minnows? We never stocked anything but bass in there that I can remember. Very curious as to what these are. 

 

[Mark Fitzy]

I'm guessing that the dark one is a yellow perch

[ioiosoiwork]

My 2 cents, top one is a common dace, bottom one is a stickle back

[Smoke-N-Finn]

Fat head, and a stickle back. Both common minnows. No perch or bass

 

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[Bassin Bob]

Correct!

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[jighead]

Well thank you all. I was wondering if that could be a fat head but wasn't sure. I am not familiar with the stickle back. Do the bass eat them as well as the flat heads? Are there any problems with them in a small pond?

 

[schreckstoff]

Looks like a Brook Stickleback. They are fairly common and tend to be found in places with decent water quality & cool water especially with vegetation. Lots of predators eat them.


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[dukhnter8]

First one like others said is fat head minnow or it's new pc name of large cranium minnow.

[DJ 17]

I thought the top one was a dace as well.

[BSmaster]

Minnows can be hard to tell at times (often).  Use this for reference.  If anyone knows a better fishes of NY reference, please post it.

 

http://www2.dnr.cornell.edu/cek7/nyfish/

 

 

[schreckstoff]

One of the best is out of Wisconsin.  Wiscfish.org - which apparently now bounces to this site: http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/home/Default.aspx?tabid=604

 

Most of it was developed by John Lyons, an eminent fish biologist. The pictures are amazing, especially those that focus on distinguishing characteristics.  Wisco fishes are fairly similar to NY's.

[jighead]

Thanks you for the links on the charts! It is a great way to get all the minnows side by side and see the subtle differences!