Barnstickle

The male builds, guards and aerates the nest (Ref. 205).

Occurs mainly along weedy bays and backwaters, entering brackish water and to a limited extent, fresh water. Food in the marine environment includes planktonic gammarids, isopods, chironomids and plants, while larvae of cladoceranas, chironomids, ephemeropterans, arthropods and other insects are eaten by freshwater populations. It is preyed upon by American eels (Anguilla rostrata), killfish (Fundulus), Atlantic tomcod (Microgadus tomcod) and sticklebacks.

Adults occur mainly along weedy bays and backwaters, entering brackish water and to a limited extent, fresh water (Ref. 3814). Feed along the bottom, primarily on diatoms, worms and crustaceans by sucking in the prey with a pipetting action (Ref. 27549). Males build, guard and aerate the nest where the eggs are deposited (Ref. 205).

aquarium: public aquariums