The redside dace is one of the most distinctive minnows with a very large, upturned mouth. Males have a large scarlet red patch on each side. The speckled chub, like the darters, has a poorly developed swim bladder and spends most of its time on the bottom. Colors are lacking in this almost translucent fish, but the body is covered with pronounced speckles. The hornyhead chub was named for the hornlike tubercles the males develop in the spring.
Juveniles have fin colors ranging from scarlet-red to pink.
The red shiner is one of the hardiest minnows in North America, and is very tolerant of pollution, turbidity, and temperatures approaching 100 degrees F. Males have red or orange fins, and blue metallic-like bodies. The spotfin shiner is similar to the red shiner in appearance and tolerance, but has a much wider distribution in Minnesota. Breeding males develop lemon-yellow fins and bluish steel bodies. The southern redbelly dace is Minnesota's most beautiful minnow. The longnose dace is another bottom dwelling species, which swims constantly to stay afloat.