swamp darters feed on fly larvae, amphipods, and other small crustaceans and insects. swamp darters tend to be an important element in the diets of young chain pickerel and young largemouth bass, where the species coexist. human-induced problems for this hardy, widespread, and locally abundant darter do not seem to exist. it thrives under a variety of conditions, including warm water, extreme murkiness or brown coloration, low or high ph, and low oxygen content.