The Redtail Chub is restricted to the lower Tennessee, Cumberland, and other Ohio River drainages in central Tennessee and south central Kentucky. They live in runs and pools of creeks to small rivers over rocky substrate. As the common name suggests, Redtail Chubs have red coloration on the tail as well as the dorsal and anal fins. Like other members of the genus Nocomis, breeding male Redtail Chubs build nests by moving gravel with their mouths one rock at a time. Other species of minnows will also lay their eggs over these nests.