Overview
The Lake Bloater is a member of the Salmonid family. Bloaters are an important part of Lake Trout ( Salvelinus namaycush) and Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar ) diets. Historically Bloaters are found in Lake Nipigon in Canada along with all the Great Lakes with exception to Lake Erie as it is too shallow for them. Bloaters are found along the bottom of these lakes during the day. At night they venture out into the open waters of the lake where they feed. Currently The US Fish and Wildlife Service is working to restore the Bloater population to Lake Ontario by raising eggs from the more successful Lake Michigan Bloater.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Fish and Aquatic Conservation. “Bloater.” Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/freshwater-fish-of-america/bloater.html.
Wyns, Daniel. “Coregonus Hoyi (Bloater).” Animal Diversity Web, 2002, https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Coregonus_hoyi/.
Identification Numbers
Characteristics
Habitat
The Lake Bloater (Coregonus hoyi) is a member of the Salmonid family. Bloaters are an important part of Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) diets. Historically Bloaters are found in Lake Nipigon in Canada along with all the Great Lakes with exception to Lake Erie as it is too shallow for them. Bloaters are found along the bottom of these lakes during the day. At night they venture out into the open waters of the lake where they feed. Currently The US Fish and Wildlife Service is working to restore the Bloater population to Lake Ontario by raising eggs from the more successful Lake Michigan Bloater.
Food
Bloaters are planktivore meaning they prey on the many small organisms that live on the water column such as plankton, algae, small bugs and crustations.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Fish and Aquatic Conservation. “Bloater.” Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/freshwater-fish-of-america/bloater.html.
Wyns, Daniel. “Coregonus Hoyi (Bloater).” Animal Diversity Web, 2002, https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Coregonus_hoyi/.
Behavior
Bloaters are planktivores meaning they prey on the many small organisms that live on the water column such as plankton, algae, small bugs and crustaceans. Bloaters spend their time filtering water through their gills to find small prey for them to consume.
Physical Characteristics
Bloaters spend most of their day deep in the lakes. However after nightfall the Bloaters will swim into the open waters of the lake to look for food. During this time many small organisms in the water also move into the open lake where they can grow and feed under the moon light. The Bloaters follow their small prey from the depths each night so they too can feed. This is known as vertical migration and it happens nightly.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Fish and Aquatic Conservation. “Bloater.” Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/freshwater-fish-of-america/bloater.html.
Wyns, Daniel. “Coregonus Hoyi (Bloater).” Animal Diversity Web, 2002, https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Coregonus_hoyi/.
Length: 10-14 in (25-37 cm)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Fish and Aquatic Conservation. “Bloater.” Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/freshwater-fish-of-america/bloater.html.
Wyns, Daniel. “Coregonus Hoyi (Bloater).” Animal Diversity Web, 2002, https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Coregonus_hoyi/.
On average around 8 oz.
Bloaters are predominately silver with iridescent hues of green, blue and purple
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Fish and Aquatic Conservation. “Bloater.” Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/freshwater-fish-of-america/bloater.html.
Wyns, Daniel. “Coregonus Hoyi (Bloater).” Animal Diversity Web, 2002, https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Coregonus_hoyi/.
Life Cycle
Bloaters have been recorded as living to 10 years old
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Fish and Aquatic Conservation. “Bloater.” Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/freshwater-fish-of-america/bloater.html.
Wyns, Daniel. “Coregonus Hoyi (Bloater).” Animal Diversity Web, 2002, https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Coregonus_hoyi/.
Bloaters are broadcast spawners. This means that once the eggs are laid and fertilized they are left to fend for themselves. Bloaters spawn in late winter (February-March) and each female can produce 3000-120000
When Bloaters hatch they continue development from fry into young fish over the course of a few weeks. Once this development stage is completed they resemble a fully grown Bloater and they continue to grow until they reach adulthood.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Fish and Aquatic Conservation. “Bloater.” Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/freshwater-fish-of-america/bloater.html.
Wyns, Daniel. “Coregonus Hoyi (Bloater).” Animal Diversity Web, 2002, https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Coregonus_hoyi/.
Geography
Bloaters are found in all the Great Lakes except Lake Erie. and they are also found in Lake Nipigon in Canada. Bloaters are commonly found at depths of 30- 500 feet. They can also be found occasionally in the tributaries of these lakes.