Northern redbelly dace

Chrosomus eos

This is just one species of 44 species from the minnow and carp family (Cyprinidae) inhabiting Canadian waters. The redbelly dace is generally less then 2 inches in length, although it is certainly one of the more spectacular of the minnows, with male and females exhibiting bright red and green vertical color band, respectively. This species typically inhabits the northerly, tea-colored habitats such as boggy lakes, beaver ponds, and creeks. The diet of this species is broad, and includes zooplankton and invertebrates, although they feed primarily on algae. Commonly residing in the same habitats as brook trout, the redbelly dace is itself a food source for brook trout populations.