Southern redbelly dace prefer permanent small headwater streams of clear unpolluted water. Many of these streams are less that 5 ft wide and have moderate to high gradients with well developed pools and riffles. Good streams for this species are found in forested areas that are well shaded. They are found in pools with some flow and an abundance of hiding places such as undercut banks, down trees, and logs in the stream. This species relies heavily on the presence of these habitat features to sustain a large population in a given stream.
The northern redbelly dace prefers to inhabit boggy (tea-colored) waters of lakes, ponds, and streams. It also commonly found in clear streams. In running water it is found in the slow currents of pools over bottoms of silt, sometimes near vegetation.
From looking at the Peterson Field Guide, it appears northern redbillies are not found as far south as Iowa, however southern redbellies are common in NE Iowa in the above mentioned habitats...
