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California Fish Website Species
Search
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Tui Chub, Siphateles bicolor
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Tui chub, approximately 10 cm (4”) long. Date: 7/10/2007.
Tui chub, approximately 10 cm (4”) long, frontal
view. Date: 7/10/2007.
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Appearance
and Identification:
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Heavy bodied, up to 40 cm SL or more
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Large scales, head is large relative to body, short rounded fins
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Small terminal mouth, slightly oblique
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Gap between gill rakers greater than width
of raker bases
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Olive, brown, to brassy back, white to silver underside
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Young fish silvery, progressively less with age
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Fin rays: dorsal 7-9, anal 7-9
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Lateral line scales: 41-64 (decurved)
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Life History:
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Tui chub are capable of adapting to
a variety of environments and dietary habits. They are found in springs, ponds, lakes,
large sluggish streams, and in the shelter of small swiftwater
streams. Typically tui chub habitat is characterized by slow water and
abundant aquatic vegetation. Most tui chub waters have summer temperatures in excess of
20°C. The optimal range is 15-30°C,
though these fish have shown the capability to survive from 2°C to
36°C. In addition, chubs are
tolerant of dissolved oxygen levels less than 4 mg/L and can handle highly
alkaline waters such as Eagle
Lake. Tui chub diet
may vary with location and time as these fish are opportunistic
omnivores. Fish in one location may
focus on detritus and supplement with invertebrates or plants, whereas in a
different water body they might focus on benthic macroinvertebrates
and supplement with fish and fish eggs.
Most often tui chub feed on detritus,
organic matter, and plants. The
characteristics of a water body affect both feeding and growth in these
fish. Tui
chub found in ponds or springs rarely exceed 20 cm SL, though in large
lakes chubs commonly reach 30-40 cm SL.
Tui chub reach sexual maturity after 2-4
years and spawn in spring and summer, with most breeding occurring between
April and July. In some isolated
ponds spawning may begin as early as February and continue into
August. Fecundities are typically
high, and eggs sometimes ripen at different times, leading to multiple
spawning sessions per season.
Typically tui chub spawn in shallow water
areas with adequate gravel substrate and aquatic vegetation. One female may be surrounded by several
males waiting to fertilize eggs. The
fertilized eggs stick to the substrate or aquatic plants until hatching 3-6
days later. The resulting larvae
feed in a pelagic state until reaching a length of around 2 cm, at which
time they move towards shallow water.
Tui chub may live up to 33 years in large
lakes, though they tend to have shorter lifespans
in small isolated waters.
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Links to Other Research
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Here's a list of California
watersheds where Tui Chub may be found.
© 2003 - Regents of the University
of California
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Communication Services
E-Mail Web Master
ANR
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