Have you ever wondered what some of the most colorful species of fish are in Ohio? While it may seem like Ohio couldn’t possibly be home to fish of all colors of the rainbow, there are many. We have gathered some of the most brilliantly colored fish below, one for each color of the rainbow!
The Redside Dace has a distinctive wide red band that stretches along its body, qualifying it as the first fish in this ROY-G-BIV series. They are found in the Eastern Region of the state and in the Mad River (west central Ohio) and are often seen jumping into the air to catch insects flying just above the surface of the water!
Photo courtesy of ODNR
This colorful species was accepted as extirpated from Ohio since 1893, until a consulting company found an individual in the Ohio River in 2010. Their disappearance for some time can be attributed to poor water quality: they most likely sought refuge in up stream areas and returned recently due to improving quality. The Gilt Darter is now considered Endangered in Ohio and can be found only in the clearest waters, near swift rifles, and around a very rocky substrate with large boulders.
Photo courtesy of ODNR
During spawning, male Pumpkinseed Sunfish dig nests anywhere from 6-12 inches deep and females may lay up to 2,900 eggs! These fish are found farther north than any other Lepomis sunfish species, and are often found in the bays and marshes surrounding Lake Erie.
Photo courtesy of ODNR
This beautiful fish, belonging to the Percidae family, is known to have brilliant green colorings along its body, head, and dorsal fin. The males typically have a much brighter coloration than females or juveniles, and will defend the area where eggs are laid until hatching, upon which time they will no longer care for the young. These fish can be found in both Lake Erie and Ohio River drainage, and have been victim to the invasive Round Goby in some areas where they were historically found.
Photo courtesy of ODNR
These multicolored darters are considered Endangered in Ohio and are found in natural lakes formed through glacial activity, most commonly known as kettle lakes. The females are not as colorful as the males, which are known to have blue markings along their bodies and throughout their fins.
Photo courtesy of B. Zimmerman, via ODNR
This popular sport fish has deep black blotches along their head, bodies, and fins that most closely resembles the color indigo. Belonging to the Centrarchidae family, females can lay up to 30,000 eggs in the nest created by the male!
Photo courtesy of ODNR
While “blue” is in this fish’s common name, it has a tendency to look very violet when young, making it the perfect species for the violet spectrum of the rainbow. The Blue Catfish is among the largest species found in North America, only outcompeted by the Alligator Gar and a few species of Sturgeon; the largest recorded individual in Ohio weighed 96 pounds! They can be found in the Ohio River, mainly in the section stretching from Portsmouth downstream to Cincinnati.
Photo courtesy of B. Zimmerman, via ODNR
