Black Crappie
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
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
28
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
Ability
Camouflage Master
Black Crappie has irregular dark spots that help them blend into mottled sunlight and aquatic plants, avoiding predators.
Ability
Vacuum Mouth
Black Crappie can quickly extend their mouth forward to create a powerful vacuum, sucking in small, unsuspecting prey.
Ability
Schooling Safety
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
- Maximum 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
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Spotted
Marked with spots or patches of a different color.
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.
Piscivorous
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Freshwater
Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Also known as
PapermouthSpeckled Perch
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Black Crappie?
10-40 cm
How much does Black Crappie weigh?
0.1-1.5 kg
How long does Black Crappie live?
5-15 years
What does Black Crappie eat?
These clever fish are hunters, eating tiny insects, crustaceans, and even small fish!
How fast can Black Crappie swim?
8 km/h
Where is Black Crappie usually found?
Lakes and rivers
How does Black Crappie hunt?
Ambush
How deep can Black Crappie go?
15 m
Snap Map
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