California Roach

California roach (Hesperoleucus symmetricus) are small minnows native to Central and Northern California and South-Central Oregon. These fish typically grow to about 3.25 inches in length and appear grey in color with silvery bellies and large heads. During spawning, they may exhibit red-orange coloring on their chin and at the base of their paired fins. This species is relatively resilient to low-oxygen environments and warm temperatures that pose challenges to survival for other native California species. The diet of California roach is dependent upon habitat, but they are omnivorous, consuming algae, crustaceans, and insects. Reappraisal of the California roach-hitch complex in 2019 using genetic approaches revealed five independent species, with the California roach having two subspecies – red hills roach and California roach.

Fun fact: Roach occupy different habitat when they live in the same waters as predators. With native predators like Sacramento pikeminnow, roach will utilize water closer to the stream edge, but when pikeminnow are absent, roach will utilize mid-channel water.