Like all logperch, they use their pig-like snouts to flip small stones in search of tasty aquatic insect larvae. Unlike its close relative, the Mobile Logperch, which prefers calmer waters, the Conasauga Logperch thrives in the fastest currents, often making them a challenge to spot. 

Unfortunately, over the past two decades, their numbers have declined dramatically. Once occupying 34 miles of river, they are now found in only a 10-11 mile stretch. Habitat loss due to agriculture, urbanization, and past timber harvest, combined with climate change and their already small population size, are major threats. While some of the threats are clear, the mystery remains of why they have vanished from reaches in the National Forest where they were once abundant.

CFI first attempted to propagate the Conasauga Logperch in 2002, but despite our extensive experience, we were unsuccessful. This is likely due to not having a balanced group of males and females for their preferred breeding group compilation

We had another chance to work with them in 2009, and by this time we had much more experience from breeding three other species of logperch. It took a couple of years to establish a strong breeding group, but by 2011 we had landed on their preferences. From just nine adults, we successfully produced over 700 young in a single year.

This success allowed us to reintroduce juvenile Conasauga Logperch into the upper Conasauga in hopes of restoring their population within the National Forest boundary. While we were thrilled to see our fish the following year during a monitoring survey, oddly, after two years, we couldn’t find them again - no wild produced young, no returning propagated adults. For several years after this restoration we surveyed for them, but had not seen any Conasauga Logperch within the Forest Boundary, leaving us with unanswered questions.

We would be excited to be involved with establishing a new population in another tributary, but so far, suitable habitat has not been identified. Until then, we remain committed to monitoring the National Forest for signs of the Conasauga Logperch.