Notropis lutrensis (Red Shiner) 3-4 cm

Origin & Habitat

• Native Range: Central and western Mississippi River basin, extending from southern Wisconsin and western Indiana to South Dakota and Wyoming, and south to Mississippi, New Mexico, and northern Mexico.

• Natural Habitat: Found in a variety of aquatic habitats, including backwaters, creek mouths, streams with sand and silt substrates, riffles, and pools.

• Size: Typically reaches up to 7 cm (2.8 inches) in length.

• Temperament: Peaceful and active; best kept in groups of 6 or more.  

🏠 Aquarium Setup & Water Parameters

• Tank Size: Minimum of 60 cm (24 inches) in length.

• Water Temperature: 18–25°C (64–77°F).

• pH: 5.0–6.0.

• Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water.

• Aquascaping: Provide plenty of hiding places with rocks, bogwood, and robust planting. A decent current from additional powerheads is beneficial.  

🐠 Behavior & Tankmates

• Schooling: Best kept in groups of 6 or more.

• Tankmates: Compatible with other peaceful species such as tetras, rasboras, and small catfish.

• Compatibility: Avoid keeping with aggressive or fin-nipping species.

🍽️ Diet

• Diet Type: Omnivorous.

• Food: High-quality flakes, micro pellets, and live/frozen foods like brine shrimp and daphnia.

• Feeding Frequency: Once or twice daily, offering only what they can consume in 2–3  

🧬 Breeding

• Spawning Behavior: Egg scatterers; females can release up to 16 batches per day, each containing up to 71 eggs. They may have 5 to 19 clutches in one reproductive season.

• Fry Care: After hatching, feed fry infusoria or powdered fry food for the first few days, then graduate to baby brine shrimp as they grow.  

⚠️ Considerations

• Invasiveness: Red Shiners are highly invasive outside their native range and can outcompete native species. It's important to avoid releasing them into the wild.

• Temperature Tolerance: They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, making them suitable for various aquarium setups.