Eastern Mudminnow

It is an elongated, stout-bodied fish, brown or yellow-green in color, with about 10 or more dark, narrow, lateral stripes separated by pale spaces, although there is no lateral line on the fish. The pelvic fin lies somewhat farther back on the body, such that it rests below the dorsal fin. The body is elongated, and the maximum size of the fish is 15 cm (5.9 in).

The native range of the eastern mudminnow is from New York to Florida, and found as west as Georgia. It has also been introduced to Europe, where it can be found in France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Poland. It is generally found in still or slow-moving waters, often in dense vegetation, often over heavily vegetated streams, swamps, and ponds. The eastern mudminnow has shown great adaptability to poor habitats with low pH, temperature, and presence of oxygen. At least one incident has been documented where an eastern mudminnow has survived an entire night out of water. The fish can be found in waters with a pH ranging from 3.5 to 8.1 in natural environments. The optimal pH for growth is 4.5, which is often detrimental or even fatal for most fish.

The eastern mudminnow are bottom-feeders and feed on insect larvae, worms, molluscs, and crustaceans.