During breeding, though, males tend to be very colorful, usually with orange-tinted dorsal fins, dark red spots along the sides, and the descriptive bright blue breast from which it gets its name.

[3] The species is commonly found in clean-flowing, medium to large rivers with high benthic current velocity and an abundance of sedimentary gravel.

[3] This darter's range covers most of the Eastern Highlands in the US, extending latitudinally from Tennessee to New York and longitudinally from West Virginia to Illinois.

[5] As a result of these pressures, populations have become increasingly isolated and restricted to moderate to large streams with turbid flow and high water quality.

[4] Its diet typically consists of insect (e.g. dipteran) larvae[8] due mostly to morphological restraints, including an average gape size of around 8 mm.

[9] Although data are largely unknown, predation effects on the bluebreast darter are thought to be relatively low due to the small, localized habitats of this species in riffles and eddies behind boulders that prevent larger pelagic fish from exploiting them.

[10] Typical anthropogenic effects detrimental to their ecology include strip mining, mica shale siltation, impoundments (dams), and agricultural drainage runoff.

[12] Data on clutch sizes are unclear for E. camurum, but studies on sister species, like the fantail darter (E. flabellare), suggest numbers range from 33 to 96 individuals.

Anthropogenic effects from siltation buildup, impoundments, strip mining, dredging, agriculture, and roadway runoff have all had detrimental impacts on its breeding and habitat.

[5][11] E. camurum is not currently placed on IUCN's Red list, but NatureServe [11] recommends close monitoring of its habitat and water quality.