TankBud

Orangethroat darter

Etheostoma spectabile

FreshwaterFish

Orangethroat darter (Etheostoma spectabile)
Nick Tobler (Cowturtle) · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
59–68°F
15–20°C
pH
6.0–8.0
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
25 gal
95 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Egg layer
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Percidae
Origin
United States

Overview

The orangethroat darter is a small, peaceful bottom-dweller for a cool tank with some current. It is hard to keep, so it suits experienced keepers.

Did you know

Male orangethroat darters put on some of the brightest color of any North American stream fish at spawning time. Rival males spar in the gravel riffles for the chance to breed.

Caring for the orangethroat darter

Give orangethroat darters a tank of at least 25 gal (95 L) with a long floor. Lay a coarse gravel and cobble bottom with stones, and give each fish its own space. They perch and dart rather than swim in open water, so a few darters need separate territory along the bottom.

Keep the water cool and clean, at 59 to 68°F (15 to 20°C), and avoid warm, still tanks. They accept a fairly wide pH, from 6.0 to 8.0. Give them a gentle to moderate current with steady flow, and strong surface movement to keep the water well oxygenated.

Orangethroat darters are fussy feeders and seldom learn to take flake. Feed live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, blackworms, daphnia and small crustaceans. They are peaceful and keep to themselves, so choose their tank mates with caution.

Males in breeding dress are boldly colored, with blue and orange banding. In spring the female buries part of her body in gravel and deposits small clutches of eggs, which are left without care. Formal aquarium breeding records are scarce, though the wild spawning behavior is well studied.

Good to know

The orangethroat darter is a member of the perch family, Percidae. It takes its name from the orange throat of a spawning male.

In the wild

Orangethroat darters live in shallow gravel riffles and rocky runs of cool creeks and small rivers across the central United States. They favor clear, briskly moving headwater streams with plenty of oxygen.

Common questions

What size tank does an orangethroat darter need?

An orangethroat darter needs at least 25 gal (95 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an orangethroat darter need?

An orangethroat darter is comfortable at 59–68°F (15–20°C) with a pH of 6.0–8.0.

What does an orangethroat darter eat?

An orangethroat darter eats live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, blackworms, daphnia and small crustaceans. It is a fussy feeder and seldom learns to take flake.

How big does an orangethroat darter get?

An adult orangethroat darter reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

How can you tell a male orangethroat darter from a female?

Males in breeding dress are boldly colored, with blue and orange banding.

How does an orangethroat darter breed?

An orangethroat darter spawns in spring. The female buries part of her body in gravel and deposits small clutches of eggs, which get no care. Formal aquarium breeding records are scarce.

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