These fish are raised commercially for bait and for stocking in farm ponds as forage for game fish. Fathead minnows are also the most commonly used fish in toxicity studies. River Chub River chubs are stubby looking minnows with small eyes. They have large scales, edged in black, covering their generally silvery bodies. While they normally average four to six inches in length, they can grow as long as eight inches.
River chubs live in large gravel or rocky bottomed creeks with clear water.
They are found in the Susquehanna drainage basin and parts of western New York. They are only occasionally used as bait by fishermen. Male river chubs expend a great amount of energy while constructing nests for spawning. Nests are built in stream bottoms that contain large gravel and rocks. The males dig shallow pits and backfill them with selected stones until a small mound is formed.