Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)

Scientific name: Pomoxis nigromaculatus Lesueur, 1829

The Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Centrarchidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 31°C (88°F).

Black crappie care at a glance

Temperature: 31°C (88°F)

Biology

Inhabits lakes, ponds, sloughs, and backwaters and pools of streams. Usually occurs among vegetation over mud or sand, most common in clear water. Forms schools. Feeds early in the morning, from midnight to 2 am. Individuals up to 16 cm feed on planktonic crustaceans and free-swimming, nocturnal, and dipterous larvae; larger individuals feed on small fishes. May be preyed upon by other fishes.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Family: Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 49.0
Common length: 27.5
Environment: Freshwater; benthopelagic
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: North America: widely introduced throughout USA that native range is difficult to determine; presumably Atlantic Slope from Virginia to Florida, Gulf Slope west to Texas in the USA, St. Lawrence-Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins from Quebec to Manitoba in Canada south to Gulf of Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.11-0.45; tmax=13; Fec=26,700)