They have long intestines which they need for digesting these foods. Adult stonerollers are generally dull grey with a brassy tint. Males develop an orange tint during spawning. Stonerollers are spring spawners. Like many minnow species, male stonerollers build nests by using their mouth to carry or push gravel.
Nests are communal and usually located at the upstream end of riffles.
Stonerollers have little direct interaction with man. However, because of their need for clean water, these fish are occasionally used as an environmental indicator of stream water quality. With the exception of Long Island and west of the Genesee River, cutlips minnows are common across New York State. They are strictly stream dwellers, found in pool areas with clean gravel and cobble. Cutlips minnow prefer bottom habitat and remain among the stones.