Shorthead Redhorse - Life History

Life History

The Shorthead Redhorse spawning season ranges from March to June, depending on location. In order to spawn, the water temperature has to be between 7 and 16 degrees Celsius. Shorthead Redhorse spawn once a year and will travel either upstream or downstream to reach their spawning ground. Spawning areas are usually smaller rivers or steams. They are locally migrant so they do not travel long distances to get their spawning area. Shorthead Redhorse spawn in shallows at the edges of sand bars or in rifles over gravel substrate. During spawning, females can produce anywhere from 18,000 to 44,000 eggs. It can take anywhere from 2-5, even 6 years for a Shorthead Redhorse to become sexually mature. In northern areas of cooler water, growth rates tend to be lower than more southern, warmer areas. The average life span of the Shorthead Redhorse varies depending on location. More northern locations with cooler water tend to have Shorthead Redhorse that can live to be older than 17 years of age. However, in more southern, warmer water areas, such as the Kankakee River, the average max age is only six to seven. As mentioned previously, the construction of dams has not had a large effect on the population of Shorthead Redhorse, but it has had some effect. The dams affect the Shorthead Redhorse just as they do other fish by blocking migration pathways to spawning areas. Because of the wide range and great abundance of the Shorthead Redhorse, no negative effects of dams have been accounted for in their population.