Native "Minnow" ID from Texas

[jed1154]

I was wondering if someone knew a place on the net with pictures of native small fishes, like mummis, minnows, etc. I went today to get some local fish and managed to catch some different looking minnows. The most striking characteristic is that they are very SHINY, like they have a mirror in them shiny. One of the larger ones has a black dot at the base of his tail. Also, their tails make a distinctive "V" shape at the back. If i had to describe them any better, they look like a rummy nosed tetra without the bright colors and a bit larger. The heads are more rounded than normal.

 

[Fruitbat]

jed1154....

Did the fish you found look anything like this:

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If so then you've found the Inland Silverside, Menidia beryllina, which is a fairly common fish in many Texas lakes. Unfortunately, like most other members of their family, they have a tendency to die fairly quickly after they have been captured. I've never successfully transferred any to an aquarium and had them live more than a day or two.

-Joe

 

[jed1154]

It looks VERY similar, except mine only have ONE dorsal fin.

 

[JohnPaul]

Perhaps someone over at the North American Native Fishes Association (NANFA) could be of help.

 

[Fruitbat]

OK.....I missed the part about the black dot on the tail.

How about THIS one:

Photo: © Howard L. Jelks
Photographer: Noel Burkhead/Howard L. Jelks, US Geological Survey

This is Cyprinella venusta, the Black-tailed Shiner.

Here's a link to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's article on this fish: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/species/bts/bts.htm

-Joe

 

[jed1154]

THATS HIM!

I went to the site, he doesnt quite fit the habitat description, but i think that is him.

Where on the site can i go to see other minnows and small fish? I found the fish ID part, but no minnows.

 

[Fruitbat]

If you go to the main ID section of the web site ( http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/species/ ), you should see a section on Carps and Minnows. Hope you'll find it helpful.

-Joe