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BiologyInhabits gravel riffles and runs of clear, cool streams (Ref. 5723). Ammocoetes occur in muddy and sandy backwaters and pools of streams (Ref. 5723). Ammocoete feed mostly on diatoms but also on other microscopic plant and animal matter (Ref. 1998). Transformed lampreys do not feed at all (Ref. 1998). Nonparasitic (Ref. 5723, 89241). Spawning period in early May in British Columbia as evidenced by spent females being collected on 8 May. Spawning occurs in redds and fertilized eggs collected on 8 May hatched in about 28 days at water temperatures between 10-12 °C. Eggs are greenish. In the state of Washington, in the early 1900s, ammocoetes were sold at $1.50 to $1.75 US per dozen to use as bait for sportfishes (Ref. 89241).