Description
Named for the distinct red spot located behind the adult’s eye, the redspot chub has an olive background color, a white belly and orange tinted fins. These fish have a fairly large eye and males can reach 8-10 inches in length.
Size
Typically 5-8 inches in length. Some males may reach 10 inches in total body length.
Habitat
This fish is limited to four states, with the bulk of the population occurring in Oklahoma. They have been documented in the Arkansas River Basin in southwestern Missouri, southeastern Kansas, northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. A smaller population occurs in Oklahoma’s Blue River and the upper Ouachita River Drainage of Arkansas. Redspot chub are restricted to creeks and small to medium rivers that have low silt loads and gravel bottoms.
Life Cycle
Redspot chubs primarily feed on insects and their larvae, small crustaceans and other invertebrates. Some plant material may also be consumed. These fish are often referred to as sight-feeding fish. Spawning occurs in the spring with a peak in May. Males mound large piles of stones (some a foot high and three feet in diameter) that are used as spawning sites for not only redspot chubs but also several other minnows and shiners.
