American gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum)

Scientific name: Dorosoma cepedianum Lesueur, 1818

American gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum)

The American gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) is a freshwater fish of the family Clupeidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 32°C (90°F).

American gizzard shad care at a glance

Temperature
32°C (90°F)

Biology

Occur mainly in freshwater in large rivers, reservoirs, lakes, swamps, temporary floodwater pools, etc., but adults also found in brackish or saline water of estuaries or bays, preferring quieter open waters. Juveniles are found in great abundance well upstream from brackish water. Very young individuals apparently never enter brackish water. Larvae are most abundant in surface waters both day and night. A herbivorous filter-feeder almost entirely. Breed near the surface in freshwater from late winter (mid-March) through most of the summer (at least to about mid-August). The adhesive eggs sink. Used to some extent as fertilizer and cattle food.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Dorosoma cepedianum
Family
Clupeidae (Herrings, shads and sardines)
Order
Clupeiformes (Herrings)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
57.0
Common length
35.0
Depth range
33 m (108 ft)
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; anadromous; depth range ? - 33 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Northwest Atlantic: North America and Gulf of Mexico drainage (southeast South Dakota and central Minnesota, Great Lakes drainage, i.e. in Lake Erie, southern parts of Lakes Huron and Michigan, Lake Ontario basin; not Lake Superior; southernmost New York southward to the Mississippi system and to Gulf southward to R?o P?nuco, Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: usually
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2; tmax=6)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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