It is very similar to the white crappie (P. annularis) in size, shape, and habits, except that it is darker, with a pattern of black spots.

[6] Both crappies have large mouths extending to below the eye, and thin lips—both suggestive of their piscivorous feeding habits.

The current all-tackle fishing world record for a black crappie is 2.47 kg (5 lb 7 oz).

[13] The black crappie's habitats are lakes, reservoirs, borrow pits, and navigation pools in large rivers.

They prefer areas with little or no current, clear water, and abundant cover such as submerged timber or aquatic vegetation,[11][12][14] as well as sand or mud bottoms like those found in lakes, ponds, streams, and sloughs.

[6] Like P. annularis, P. nigromaculatus is very prolific and can tend to overpopulate its environment, with negative consequences both for the crappie and for other fish species.

[15] A commercial supplier of the fish, however, claims that it can be safely stocked in ponds as small as one acre (0.40 hectares) in area.

[7] According to scientific studies carried out in California, the mysid shrimp Neomysis awatschensis and amphipods of genus Corophium were most commonly eaten by all sizes of black crappie, followed by copepods, cladocerans and chironomid larvae and pupae.

[citation needed] Black crappies can be safely harvested under minimal, reasonable regulations, as long as there is no permanent damage to the fishery or environment.

[6][11][20] Males use their bodies and tails to sweep out an area of sand or mud in shallow water (between one and six feet deep) usually near a shoreline and vegetation to create a nest.

[7] Black crappies appear to nest in the most protected areas (such as places with woody debris or live vegetation) possible.

[21] Female crappies produce an average of 40,000 spherical eggs, the number depending on their age and size.