Fish Active during the day

Northern Redbelly Dace

Chrosomus eos

iNaturalist Wikipedia

A miniature jewel of northern wetlands, the Northern Redbelly Dace is famous for the male's stunning transition into fiery crimson during the spring breeding season.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 cm) in length; weight is negligible, usually just a few grams.

palette

Colors

Olive to brownish-green back with two distinct dark lateral stripes. Breeding males develop a brilliant crimson or bright red belly and yellow fins.

visibility

Key Features

Two parallel dark horizontal stripes on each side
Brilliant red belly in breeding males
Small, upturned mouth
Fine scales that give the skin a smooth, velvety texture

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern Active during the day

brightness_5

Peak hours 10 AM - 4 PM

calendar_month

Season May-August

restaurant

Diet Omnivorous; primarily feeds on filamentous algae and diatoms, but will also eat tiny aquatic insects and zooplankton.

park

Habitat Quiet, boggy lakes, beaver ponds, and slow-moving streams with silt bottoms and abundant vegetation.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Northern Redbelly Dace Live?

The Northern Redbelly Dace is a native of the North American continent, flourishing across a broad northern latitudinal band. Its core population resides in the boreal regions of Canada, stretching from the maritime provinces of the east all the way to the Rocky Mountain foothills in the west. In the United States, they are commonly found throughout the Great Lakes region, New England, and into the northern Great Plains, with isolated populations reaching as far south as Colorado and Nebraska where cool, spring-fed waters persist.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

2 Countries

5.2M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

CA Canada US United States

Elevation range

0 m1,000 m2,000 m4,000 m

Sea level – 1,800 m

eco

iNaturalist / Verified observation data

View on iNaturalist open_in_new

Explore more Fish arrow_forward

Behavior

The Northern Redbelly Dace is a social, schooling fish that spends its day darting through the shallows of quiet waters. They are highly active during daylight hours, navigating through dense aquatic vegetation to avoid larger predators like bass or pike. While they are small, their schooling behavior provides a level of protection, as the shimmering of dozens of bodies can confuse an attacker.

During the spawning season, which typically occurs from late spring to early summer, their behavior becomes much more animated. Males will vigorously pursue females into patches of filamentous algae, where eggs are deposited. Outside of breeding, they are peaceful residents of their ecosystem, often seen hovering near the bottom or middle of the water column in search of food.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

Capturing the Northern Redbelly Dace requires an underwater approach, as these tiny fish are nearly invisible from the shore. For those with a backyard pond or access to a slow-moving creek, using a waterproof action camera or a specialized underwater 'fish cam' is essential. Place the camera in shallow water (6-12 inches deep) near patches of filamentous algae or submerged logs, as these are the areas where the dace naturally congregate to feed and hide.

To get the best clarity, position the camera facing away from the sun to avoid glare on the water's surface, and ensure the lens is only a few inches away from the vegetation you expect them to visit. Since these fish are small, a wide-angle lens is helpful, but you’ll want to get as close as possible to see the intricate details of their stripes. Setting your camera to a higher frame rate (60fps or higher) is recommended to capture their quick, darting movements smoothly.

The best time to film is during the late spring spawning run when the males are at their most colorful. To draw them into the frame, you can gently disturb a small patch of the bottom silt or algae to release microscopic food particles, which often triggers a feeding frenzy. Avoid using heavy baits that cloud the water; instead, focus on areas with natural light penetration to highlight the brilliant reds and yellows of the breeding males.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Northern Redbelly Dace.

Southern Redbelly Dace

Very similar in color, but has a less upturned mouth and preferred warmer, more southerly waters.

Finescale Dace

Larger and has only one distinct dark lateral stripe compared to the two stripes found on the Northern Redbelly.

Blacknose Dace

Lacks the vibrant red belly and has a single prominent black stripe running through the eye all the way to the tail.

Browse all Fish arrow_forward

Frequently Asked Questions

Northern Redbelly Dace are strictly diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. You are most likely to see them schooling and feeding between mid-morning and late afternoon when the sun provides maximum visibility in their aquatic habitat.

To attract these fish, you need a healthy, slow-moving water feature or pond that mimics a boggy environment. Planting native aquatic vegetation like pondweed and allowing some natural algae to grow provides both their primary food source and the cover they need to feel safe.

They are largely herbivorous, spending much of their time grazing on filamentous algae and diatoms. However, they are opportunistic and will also consume small invertebrates, such as water fleas and tiny insect larvae, especially during the warmer months.

They can be found in suburban areas if there are preserved wetlands, slow-moving creeks, or drainage ponds that maintain cool water temperatures and high water quality. They are sensitive to heavy pollution and siltation from construction.

The Northern Redbelly Dace has a shorter, more pointed snout and its mouth is more strongly upturned compared to the Southern variety. Additionally, the Northern species typically has two distinct dark stripes that remain separate, whereas the Southern species' stripes may look different or join near the tail.

Record Northern Redbelly Dace at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo