Creek Chub
ExploreFish
Creek Chub
semotilus atromaculatus
Creek chubs are fun, friendly fish that love to swim in cool, clear waters! They often gather in groups and can be spotted darting around in streams and rivers.
Habitat: Creek chubs live in freshwater streams, rivers, and ponds, often in areas with plenty of rocks and plants.
Appearance
The Creek Chub has a streamlined body, typically olive-brown on its back with silvery sides and a whitish belly. It features a distinctive dark spot at the base of its dorsal fin and a faint lateral band. Its large mouth is slightly angled upwards.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderCypriniformesFamilyCyprinidaeGenusSemotilus
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
24
Interesting facts
Creek Chubs are a popular baitfish and a food source for many larger fish and birds!
Male Creek Chubs grow temporary bumpy 'horns' called tubercles on their heads when breeding!
These fish can migrate upstream during floods to find new habitats and food sources!
They are sometimes called 'stream sweepers' because they help clean up algae and detritus!
Special abilities
Ability
Pebble Architect
Creek Chub males can build pebble nests by moving stones with their mouths to protect their eggs during spawning.
Ability
Hardy Survivor
Creek Chub has a robust physiology that helps them tolerate a wide range of water temperatures and conditions.
Ability
Camouflage Master
Creek Chub has mottled coloring that helps them blend seamlessly with the rocky or silty stream bottoms.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 7-30 cm
- Weight
- 0.01-0.5 kg
- Lifespan
- 5-7 years
- Swim Speed
- 10 km/h
- Maximum Depth
- 3 m
- Water Type
- Freshwater
Diet & Feeding
These hungry fish eat almost anything they can find, from insects to tiny fish and even plants!
Primary Foods
- aquatic insects
- insect larvae
- small fish
- crayfish
- algae
- detritus
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
Larger Brown Trout prey on Creek Chubs.
eaten by
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
River otters hunt Creek Chubs in freshwater habitats.
eaten by
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Kingfishers dive to catch Creek Chubs from the water.
eats
Mayfly
Baetis tricaudatus
Creek Chubs consume aquatic larvae of mayflies.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Also known as
Semotilus
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Creek Chub?
The easiest way to identify Creek Chub is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Creek Chub?
7-30 cm
How much does Creek Chub weigh?
0.01-0.5 kg
How long does Creek Chub live?
5-7 years
What does Creek Chub eat?
These hungry fish eat almost anything they can find, from insects to tiny fish and even plants!
How fast can Creek Chub swim?
10 km/h
Where is Creek Chub usually found?
Creek chubs live in freshwater streams, rivers, and ponds, often in areas with plenty of rocks and plants.
How does Creek Chub hunt?
Foraging
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
Apr 29, 2026
Ohio Cavernsi
Photo attribution
(c) Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Apr 11, 2026
Chanticleer Gardeni
Photo attribution
(c) Brian White, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Apr 3, 2026
Ohio Cavernsi
Photo attribution
(c) Steven Wang, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
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