Shiny silver fish with golden tones, a narrow body, and triangular fins

Golden shiner

Notemigonus crysoleucas
Where at Shedd?
At Home on the Great Lakes
Diet Primarily plant materials, as well as crustaceans, insects and snails
Size Length: Up to 11.8 inches (30 cm); common length 5.7 inches (14.4 cm)
Type Fishes
Range North America: Atlantic and Gulf Slope drainages from Nova Scotia, Canada to Southern Texas, USA
Habitat Freshwaters of the US and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains; invasive in western regions and non-native waters

Did you know?

  1. Golden shiners and fathead minnows are two of the most common bait fish grown on commercial fish farms.
  2. These fish sometimes spawn over the nests of sunfish, sneaking in their eggs for the male sunfish to guard.

IUCN Red List Conservation Status