Brook Silverside can be distinguished from Golden Silverside/Stout Silverside (Labidesthes vanhyningi) by the ratio of thoracic length to abdominal length (>2 in L. sicculus vs. <2 in L. vanhyningi) and the shape of the midlateral stripe (tapered in front of the first dorsal fin in L. sicculus vs. not tapering in L. vanhyningi) (Werneke and Armbruster 2015)

Native to Lake Erie and Lake Ontario (and their tributaries) and the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers.  Also native to Lake Michigan tributaries (Hocutt and Wiley 1986). Type specimen for the species was collected in 1865 near Grosse Ile in the Detroit River, Michigan (Cahn 1927).

Brook Silverside is an annual species that mature at age 1 and usually die before reaching 18 months (Marsden et al. 2000). They spawn in spring and early summer in and around vegetation, esp. Scirpus and Potamogeton when water temperatures reach 20ºC and spawning climaxes at 22.4ºC (Cahn 1927). Females produce 400 to 700 eggs, which are orange and attached by a ~2.0 cm long adhesive filament – hatching in 8-9 days (Becker 1983).  Juveniles exhibit extremely rapid growth with 70-80% of total length achieved within the first year prior to winter (Scott and Crossman 1973; Becker 1983). Liifespans rarely exceed 2 years as individuals die after spawning.

It is a specialized feeder, preying on cladocera, small flying insects, and Chaoborus larvae. Their diet is dominated by terrestrial insects (Johnson et al. 2017). This species feeds with a snapping action, often jumping to capture flying insects (Scott and Crossman 1998). Brook Silverside are consumed by a variety of organisms, including waterfowl, turtles, water snakes, crayfish, minks, and fish (Becker 1983) and may be an important forage fish for Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu), Cisco (Coregonus artedi) and Gar (Lepisosteus osseus) (Cahn 1927).

Page and Burr (1991) reported that the species had been introduced, usually into impoundments, as forage for sport fishes. Apparently, therefore, most introductions have been intentional (e.g., Jenkins and Burkhead 1994, and references cited therein). The species was accidentally introduced in Nebraska at the Sutherland cooling pond in July 1979 (Rowe 1992).

Introductions in New York and Vermont are a result of canal connections. Lake Champlain is connected to the Hudson and Mohawk rivers via a canal (Marsden et al. 2000).

There is little or no evidence to support that Labidesthes sicculus has significant socio-economic impacts in the Great Lakes.

There is little or no evidence to support that Labidesthes sicculus has significant beneficial effects in the Great Lakes.

Potential:
Ideal forage fish and when abundant may be an important prey item for game fish (Scott and Crossman 1998).  Not widely known is the fact that the Brook Silverside was also brought into California for the purpose of midge biocontrol. The Fish and Game Commission, at its January 1963 meeting, granted authority to the Lake County Mosquito Abatement District to import the Brook Silverside into California. The program was described by Cook (1968). The fish were obtained from Ohio, apparently in 1964, and were released in isolated, experimental ponds in the vicinity of Lakeport. The experiments were considered successful, and at its August 1967 meeting, the Commission approved the District's request to release Brook Silverside into Upper and Lower Blue Lakes in Lake County. However, although they reproduced and did well in one experimental pond for three years, they died from unknown causes and none were ever released into the Upper or Lower Blue Lakes. Given the abundance and rapid spread of the inland silverside in California and controversies surrounding its impact on sport and nongame fishes, it is not surprising that the Brook Silverside received no further consideration.

Note: Check federal, state/provincial, and local regulations for the most up-to-date information.

Control
Biological
There are no known biological control methods for this species.

Physical
There are no known physical control methods for this species

Chemical
There are no known chemical control methods specific to this species.  General piscides (e.g., rotenone) may be effective, but significant non-target mortality is expected.

Note: Check state/provincial and local regulations for the most up-to-date information regarding permits for control methods.

Labidesthes sicculus and L. vanhyningi (Golden Silverside or Stout Silverside) have recently been described as two separate species due to morphological and life history differences (Werneke and Armbruster 2015).

Round Goby invasions in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River have reduced predation pressure which may have indirectly increased Brook Silverside abundance (Morissette et al. 2018).