TankBud

Red shiner

Cyprinella lutrensis

Also known as Rainbow dace

FreshwaterFish

Red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis)
USFWS Mountain Prairie · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
57–77°F
14–25°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
3.5 in
9 cm
Minimum tank
36 gal
135 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
United States

Overview

Red shiners are hardy, sociable fish that are best kept in a group of six or more, both because they are gregarious and because keeping several spreads out the mild sparring that males do among themselves. They are mostly peaceful, active swimmers of the middle water that suit a coolwater community, though quick, boisterous shoalmates suit them better than slow, long finned ones that might be nipped. They are easy to feed, taking flake, pellets, and frozen or live foods. They tolerate a wide range of conditions and do not need tropical heat. A tank around 135 liters or larger keeps a group comfortable.

In the wild

The red shiner is native to the streams and rivers of the central United States, where it thrives in a wide range of conditions, from clear water to warm, silty, and disturbed rivers that many fish avoid. It is adaptable and hardy, comfortable at about 14–25 C and a neutral to slightly alkaline pH of 6.5–8.0. Recreate its home with a gravel and sand base, some current, and water worn rock and driftwood. It is not fussy about decor, but it appreciates clean, oxygenated water and open room to swim.

Good to know

Cyprinella lutrensis is a North American member of the family Cyprinidae that reaches around 9 cm. It is a deep bodied minnow whose breeding males turn steel blue on the body with rosy red fins and a flush of color on the head, set off by white breeding tubercles. It is an egg depositing spawner that tucks its eggs into crevices in wood and rock rather than scattering them freely. Breeding it deliberately in the aquarium is difficult.

Did you know

The red shiner is so hardy and adaptable that it has become a problem outside its native range in the United States, where fish released from bait buckets and aquariums have established wild populations and crowded out native minnows. That same toughness makes it an easy, if boisterous, subject in a coolwater tank.

Common questions

What size tank does a Red shiner need?

A Red shiner needs at least 36 gal (135 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Red shiner need?

A Red shiner is comfortable at 57–77°F (14–25°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

How big does a Red shiner get?

An adult Red shiner reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).

Related species