I went out to clean out the screen that covers my overflow pipe just now. The recent system dropped 3.75 inches of rain and the pond was on the verge of overflowing its banks completely due all the watershed coming in, and the screen had become clogged with leaves. The top is open so excess water can pass over the top of the screen if it's too congested. It flows through a 6 inch pipe into the streets ditch.

Anyway, when I bent down to clear it, I see something swimming in the basket. I easily retrieved it and initially thought it was a YOY LMB, but quickly realized it was some kind of minnow. The mouth is sucker type, body very fusiform, and a distinct black stripe down the side. (Picture Attached)

[img:left]https://photos.app.goo.gl/fCpPDTanWgt17fCg6[/img]

Can anyone tell me what this is? I'm guessing some kind of shiner. Did I mess up by putting it in the pond? I'm thinking if he's a one and only, he wont last long with my three LMB. If he's got company, then I have another once unknown forage source.

Although, I haven't ever personally seen one in person, it looks to me like a Lake Chubsucker. I'm sure someone will come along soon and let you know for sure, but that's my uneducated guess. lol

Ditto on the LCS.. I'd say that's what it is.

I also think chubsucker, maybe not a lake chubsucker.

Thanks for the info guys.

I did a bit of research with JKS's suggestion. I'm pretty sure it's likely a chub, but I'm leaning more toward a creek chub. Due to their range and the surrounding terrain.

I'm guessing the little guy swam up stream about half a mile from the slough thru the flooded ditches and somehow made his way thru 20 feet of thick vegetation, following the current of overflow from the pond,found his way into the pipe, and ended up in the basket....or it's been in the pond since the flood and got too close to the drain and got sucked in. (If that's the case, maybe it ain't the only one!)....or maybe a GBH dropped it in the pond!!!

Amazing the stuff that just keeps showing up in this puddle.

Definitely not a creek chub. the mouth is all wrong for any type of chub. Chubs have terminal mouths not somewhat under the snout. Keep looking.

Ok, you guys are gonna think I'm nuts.. I've spent the last 3+ hours going through every book I have and some time on the www..
The closest minnows I can find in appearance and character are 2 different animals.. The minnow pictured has similarity, pattern and scale shape/size to that of both a Lake chub AND a type of blunt nosed minnow. BUT...I found another critter very similar and it would appear it would be EXTREMELY rare but I found a species on the critically endangered list-the Cape Fear shiner-that displays several very similar traits. It appears as though the remaining stock of this shiner seems to be located in the central/south central part of the Carolinas. Not likely, but an interesting find at the least.
If you still have this specimen, it might be a good idea to get more pics from different angles. Even with your pic blown up I'm having a hard time deciphering the exact shape of the mouth. Bill obviously is seeing something there leading in another direction. I'm not able to see clear enough to make a determination there, so as Bill said, keep looking! :-))

My Bio says Female central stoneroller…????

Hey Snipe....yeah I still have it, but not in my possession, so to speak...lol. Its swimming in the pond now!

I doubt seriously it would be a Cape Fear, as I'm only about 1200 miles from there.

When I first took the pic, I thought the mouth was more sucker type, but it's not, its upturned like a minnow. The pics I've seen of chubs (both lake and creek) resemble this little guy, but there's always some variation. The three sets of belly fins also make me lean toward chub. I haven't looked at the stone roller yet, tho.

Hey Snipe....yeah I still have it, but not in my possession, so to speak...lol. Its swimming in the pond now!

I doubt seriously it would be a Cape Fear, as I'm only about 1200 miles from there.

When I first took the pic, I thought the mouth was more sucker type, but it's not, its upturned like a minnow. The pics I've seen of chubs (both lake and creek) resemble this little guy, but there's always some variation. The three sets of belly fins also make me lean toward chub. I haven't looked at the stone roller yet, tho.

[img:left]https://photos.app.goo.gl/tu1LE3vJiYGo3pU89[/img]

This is a screenshot from the LDWF list of fish identified in this state...its of a creek chubsucker!

I'm getting a little confused in this discussion. I thought Creek Chub and Creek Chubsucker were two different species. Correct? If true, are you saying this is a chubsucker or a chub?

My apologies Bill. I assumed they were both one and the same. I mean chubsucker.

It could easily be a creek chubsucker. The creek chub (Semotilus) and the other closely related chubs (several genera) belong to a different genus than the lake and creek chubsuckers (Erimyzon). Individuals in a genus have distinctly different recognizable features from those in another genus. Thus different genus names.

I guess the question is, now that it's in the pond, if it survives, what kind of impact might it have as it forages and tries to make a life for itself?

Try this page for info source.

https://www.efish.fishwild.vt.edu/

Yesterday I took my dip net and did some seining in the ditch that my pond drains into. I've been seeing bunches of tiny fish swimming in it since the last big rain that overflowed the pond, and just had to see just what they were.

After several passes, I caught GAMs, YOY and fry of both BG and GSF, some up to 2" but mainly around 1", a 3" BH, and another 4" Creek Cubsucker.

I returned all the larger YOY and the chubsucker to the pond. Now I know I've got two!!! I'm kinda hoping they'll survive predation and spawn so I'll have another bottom cleaner in the pond to help with the loads of leaves that fall every year.