The brook silverside breeds in the summer from late May to mid-August. Their life span is only one year.Bloom, D.D., Piller, K.R., Lyons, J., Mercado-Silva, N. & Medina-Nava, M. (2009): Systematics and Biogeography of the Silverside Tribe Menidiini (Teleostomi: Atherinopsidae) Based on the Mitochondrial ND2 Gene. Copeia, 2009 (2): 408-417. During the first year, they have rapid growth, growing up to one millimeter per day. Brook silversides quickly reach a maximum size of approximately eight centimeters. They reach sexual maturity by the first summer in order to reproduce. Some studies report that brook silversides reproduce by internal fertilization, although this has not been entirely confirmed. When the eggs are produced, they have an attached filament, which allows for the eggs to be deposited on logs, plants and rocks. Temperature does not affect the sex of fish. After the eggs hatch, they immediately swim away from the shore into deeper water, but still stay just under the surface.Pratt, K.E., Hargrave, C.W. & Gido, K.B. (2002): Rediscovery of Labidesthes sicculus (Atherinidae) in Lake Texoma (Oklahoma-Texas). The Southwestern Naturalist, 47 (1): 142–147. They congregate in large schools. The brook silverside migrates throughout its life cycle. No human-induced changes are reported as affecting the life history.Hubbs, C.L. (1921): An Ecological Study of the Life-History of the Fresh-Water Atherine Fish Labidesthes sicculus. Ecology, 2 (4): 262-276. Human-induced changes are reported as more strongly affecting populations rather than behaviors.
