While exploring a creek near Youngstown, Ohio, I caught a fish that I had never encountered in the wild before. Its natural geographic range extends from the Great Lakes south along the Mississippi River basin to Louisiana, and east across the Midwestern United States to New York State.

Despite me not being familiar with it, the Bluntnose Minnow is very ubiquitous and may be the most common freshwater fish in the Eastern United States. It occupies a broad range of habitats including lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams and prefers shallow areas of clear water with sand and gravel bottoms.

This fish is commonly used for bait in the fishing industry. Averaging three inches in length, its characteristic rounded face is where the common name “Bluntnose Minnow” originated.

These fish prefer to feed on aquatic insects, algae, diatoms, aquatic insect larvae, and small crustaceans called entomostracans. Occasionally they will eat fish eggs or small fish.

A close relative, the Fathead Minnow, gives off a chemical called “alarm substance” when under attack. Scientists think the substance may be a distress signal that attracts other predatory fish who interrupt the first predator, allowing the minnow to escape.

Third Eye Herp
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