Banded darter

Etheostoma zonale

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 59–70°F (15–21°C)
pH: 6.5–8.0
Adult size: 3.1 in (7.8 cm)
Minimum tank: 26 gal (100 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Very rare
Origin: United States
Family: Percidae

Overview

These are coolwater fish, so hold the temperature at 15 to 21 C with pH 6.5 to 8 and a lot of current and oxygen. They live near the bottom and aren't true schoolers, but they are peaceful and do fine in a small group of their own kind. A 100 liter tank with rocks and gravel suits them. Feed live or frozen meaty foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp; most won't take flake.

In the wild

Banded darters live in clear, fast streams and small rivers in the eastern United States, especially the Ohio River drainage, over rock and gravel. They sit on the bottom in the current and need cool, well-oxygenated water. To keep them you have to recreate that: a chiller or a cool room, strong flow, and a rocky bed, which is why they're a demanding fish.

Good to know

This is a North American darter in the family Percidae, the same family as perch, and it grows to about 8 cm. Spawning males show green bands along the body. They are egg layers that deposit eggs on the bottom rather than guarding a nest. There is no clear aquarium breeding record for them.

Did you know

Darters have almost no swim bladder, so they don't hover the way most fish do. They rest flat on the bottom propped on their fins and move in short hops between rocks.