They are easily captured with a seine, as long as you're willing to slog through the thick sticky mud that characterizes most river backwaters. Both are small bottom-dwellers that move in quick darts, hence their name. The two species are sometimes found together, although the rainbow darter usually favors slightly faster, more turbulent water than the banded darter. Both species are most colorful during spawning, which occurs in May and June. The breeding male rainbow darter lives up to his name, with deep blue and orange-red bars covering its sides, and bright blue and orange fins and throat.
Male darters use their bright colors to attract females.
The female is more subdued, with mottled dark brown and tan sides, and less brilliant oranges and blues in her fins. The breeding male banded darter has bright green bands along his sides, and orange and green stripes in his dorsal fins. The female lacks the strong green color and can be easily confused with the female rainbow darter. The striking colors of these male darters are used to attract females, and studies show that the most brightly colored males have the greatest spawning success. For this reason, male rainbow and banded darters establish breeding territories in shallow waters where large fish predators such as bass and pike can t forage efficiently.