Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Sticklebacks (Gasterosteidae)

Stickleback silhouette.

A small family inhabiting marine and fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere. Sticklebacks are small, scaleless fishes. They have 2-10 stout, unconnected dorsal spines followed by a soft dorsal fin. The caudal peduncle is narrow, and the tail fin is rounded to slightly concave. The pelvic fins are thoracic.

Four native stickleback species are found predominantly in marine and sometimes fresh waters of Connecticut. The males build and guard nests made out of aquatic vegetation, and they become darker and/or more brightly colored during the spawning season.

Click on the species' names below to learn more.

Fourspine Stickleback (Apeltes quadracus) - Native

5 cm fourspine stickleback.

 

Ninespine Stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) - Native

Adult ninespine stickleback.

 

Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) - Native

8 cm threespine stickleback.

 

Blackspotted Stickleback (Gasterosteus wheatlandi) - Native

45 mm blackspotted stickleback.

 

A strictly freshwater species, the brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans), has been reported from Connecticut waters, but none have been sampled since the 1960s, so it probably is no longer present. The brook stickleback is similar to the fourspine stickleback except that the pelvic bones are joined. Also, there are 4-6 (usually 5) short dorsal spines (length of spines usually less than diameter of eye). Brook sticklebacks are found throughout much of New York State. 

Sticklebacks are relatively easy to keep in home aquariums, but due to their small size don’t do well in the presence of large, aggressive species. Most prefer at least some salt content in the water and will eat a variety of live, frozen or freeze-dried food. Although small, they are fairly aggressive toward other fishes and will nip at fins.

 

Text and images adapted from Jacobs, R. P., O'Donnell, E. B., and Connecticut DEEP. (2009). A Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut. Hartford, CT. Available for purchase at the DEEP Store.