The brook stickleback is one of the commonest and most easily seen species of fish in Alberta. It is found throughout much of the province, occurring in both streams and lakes. In lakes it is most often seen, with patient observation, close to shore in or near rooted aquatic plants, either in schools or individually. They feed primarily on small aquatic insects and crustaceans. In turn, they are an important item in the diet of many other fishes and of many aquatic birds, mammals, and invertebrates.
Breeding takes place from late spring to early summer.
Males will build a nest that is up to 35 mm in diameter by taking such items as algae and leaves of aquatic plants and binding them together with a thread-like substance secreted from the kidney. Females lay eggs within the nest and following fertilization the male will vigorously defend the nest and developing eggs until after hatching in a few weeks time. Nests may be observed with careful observation along shorelines from late May to early July. In all localities various expressions of pelvic skeleton development may exist. This phenomenon, of presence or absence of a major structure with a genetic basis, is very unusual in fishes and is being studied by Dr. Joe S. Nelson.