Home · Cyprinidae · Finescale dace
Finescale dace (Chrosomus neogaeus) — Cyprinidae

Finescale dace

Chrosomus neogaeus
Family: Cyprinidae

The Finescale dace (Chrosomus neogaeus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
North America: Canada, USA

Want the complete picture on the Finescale dace?

Get the app

Description

The finescale dace is a small minnow (Leuciscidae) from fresh water of northern North America. The species grows to about 11 cm and has a stocky, bronze-brown body with a dark longitudinal band and very fine scales; in the breeding season the belly and flanks turn reddish. As a schooling fish it lives in cool streams, ponds and swamps and eats small invertebrates, algae and detritus. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Finescale dace?

The Finescale dace has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Finescale dace live?

The Finescale dace lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. North America: Canada, USA

How big does the Finescale dace get?

The Finescale dace grows to a maximum of about 11 cm. On average the species is around 6 cm.

Is the Finescale dace dangerous to humans?

No, the Finescale dace is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Finescale dace (Chrosomus neogaeus) — Cyprinidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Rob Foster (CC BY 4.0)
Finescale dace (Chrosomus neogaeus) — Cyprinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Julia Marshall, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Finescale dace (Chrosomus neogaeus) — Cyprinidae — 4
David LeGros (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Finescale dace (Chrosomus neogaeus) — Cyprinidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Edward Hicks, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Finescale dace?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Finescale dace is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Finescale dace sourced
Scientific name
Chrosomus neogaeus
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Finescale dace; Fine-scale minnow; Scaly minnow; Bronze minnow verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.0 verified
Average length (cm)
6.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
North America: Canada, USA sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
6.0 verified
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Chrosomus

More from the family Cyprinidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Finescale dace?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Finescale dace is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Finescale dace? Get the app