ExploreFish

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

The Black Crappie is a friendly fish that loves to swim in schools. It has pretty black spots all over its body!

Habitat: Lakes and rivers

Appearance

The Black Crappie has a deep, laterally flattened body with a silvery-white to greenish-gold color, covered in irregular black splotches. Its large dorsal fin has seven or eight sharp spines, distinguishing it from similar panfish. It possesses a large mouth and big eyes.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopteriOrderCentrarchiformesFamilyCentrarchidaeGenusPomoxis

Black Crappie

Interesting facts

A single female Black Crappie can lay over 100,000 eggs in a season!

Black Crappies have huge eyes to help them spot their tiny prey in dim, murky water.

Their funny name, 'crappie,' comes from an old French-Canadian word meaning 'panfish'!

They build their nests by scraping shallow, round depressions on the lake bottom.

Special abilities

Black Crappie has irregular dark spots that help them blend into mottled sunlight and aquatic plants, avoiding predators.

Black Crappie can quickly extend their mouth forward to create a powerful vacuum, sucking in small, unsuspecting prey.

Black Crappie often forms schools, which helps them confuse predators and makes hunting for food more efficient.

Measurements & details

Length: 10-40 cm
Weight: 0.1-1.5 kg
Lifespan: 5-15 years
Swim Speed: 8 km/h
Max Depth: 15 m
Water Type: Freshwater

Diet & Feeding

These clever fish are hunters, eating tiny insects, crustaceans, and even small fish!

Age differences: Young crappie eat mostly tiny zooplankton, switching to larger insects, crustaceans, and small fish as they grow.

Primary Foods

zooplankton
aquatic insect larvae
small crustaceans
minnows
small fish

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

eaten by

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Adult crappie are a food source for these larger predatory fish.

eaten by

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

Pike are opportunistic predators that will consume crappie.

hunts

Water Flea

Daphnia pulex

Young crappie feed heavily on these small crustaceans.

hunts

Midge Larvae

Chironomus plumosus

Crappie commonly consume these abundant aquatic insect larvae.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Spotted

Discover animals and plants adorned with beautiful dots and splotches, making them unique and easy to spot!

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.