Data sheet minnow
Trade name:
minnow
Latin name:
Phoxinus phoxinus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Order:
Cypriniformes (carp-like)
Family:
Leuciscidae (whitefish)
Genus:
Phoxinus (minnows)
Origin:
widespread from northern Spain across central and northern Europe to Siberia (northern Eurasia)
Size:
10 – 14 cm (females), 7 – 10 cm (males)
Aquarium
Length x width x height (in cm):
60x30x35
Contents:
60 liters
water values
Temperature:
4 to 20°C
pH:
7.0 to 8.5
GH:
10 to 22 °dGH
CH:
8 to 18 °dKH
Behave
Area:
middle and upper zone
Lining:
Flake food, plant food, food tablets, trout rearing food, frozen food, live food (water fleas and hoppers)
Behave:
school fish
Number:
Group size of at least ten specimens recommended
Life expectancy:
11 years or less
association with shrimp
no
Difficulty level:
Novice Pmau, Phoxinus phoxinus img 33486, CC BY-SA 4.0
General introduction
Minnows and their habitats
The minnow is a small freshwater fish species in the carp family. It is the type species of the genus Phoxinus. The distribution area of the minnow extends over large parts of Eurasia.
Their natural habitat ranges from Great Britain and Spain to eastern Siberia. Here it is mainly found in cool streams and oxygen-rich lakes and ponds Trout and grayling area to find.
Once a widespread and common fish, the stock has declined sharply. For this reason, the minnow is classified as «endangered» in Germany’s Red List.
Minnows and their way of life
The minnow is a sociable species that swims in large shoals. It can therefore be assumed that the minnow plays an important role in the food chain. It can be observed that in many streams where there are no minnows, the brown trout present are rather small.
Minnows living in the wild spawn in the overflowed gravel fields of the water body. The male presses himself against the flank of the female.
As a result, the eggs are released into the cracks between the stones. The eggs are around 2 mm in size and do not stick.
Coarse gravel substrate is important for embryonic and larval developmentin which there is protection from predators and a good supply of food.
If there is sufficient flow through the crack system of the substrate, the larvae can penetrate deep into the cave passages.
Keeping minnows in ponds and cold water aquariums
Although minnows can be kept in 60 liter aquariums, as fish that enjoy swimming, they should be kept Garden ponds or spacious aquariums offer.
Cold water tanks with a volume of around 400 liters are ideal for keeping them in aquariums.
gender differences
The males have one in March spawning rash on. White nodules appear in the area of the head. Also characteristic is the red coloring on the abdomen and mouth as well as on the bases of the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins, which indicates readiness for spawning.
The flanks of the males then appear green-gold shimmering with irregular dark cross bands. Different populations of minnows can show different color variations in male nuptial plumage.
During the mating season, the females do not show a spawning rash. However, a continuous dark longitudinal band forms as well as a white-silver coloration in the abdominal area.
breed
breeding approach
Rearing should take place in a separate rearing tank. The willingness to spawn can be promoted by a water level lowered to 10 – 20 cm and a strong water current.
The water should clear and clean be. The bottom of the spawning tank should be coarse gravel or fist-sized rocks.
rearing
As soon as the female minnows have laid their spawn, consisting of up to 1000 eggs, between the stones, the parents are removed from the spawning pool. The water flow is throttled. At the same time, the water must always well supplied with oxygen through ventilation be.
Depending on the temperature, the fish larvae hatch within 4-8 days. After another 24 hours, the young minnows are swimming around freely.
During this time, the yolk sac is used up. The larvae, which feed on plankton in the wild, can then be fed with Artemia nauplii. Sexual maturity is reached after about 2 years.
socialization
For keeping them together in a pond and cold water aquarium are mainly recommended small pond fish like mildew (Leucaspius delineatus) or bitterling (Rhodeus amarus).
Also biotope fish like the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) are well suited for socializing with minnows.
Other questions
Where does the term minnow come from?
The name of the minnow is derived from the East Central German Eller. Eller, in turn, means alder. The minnow as an «alder fish» likes to stay under alder trees on the banks of flowing water.
What should be considered when keeping minnows in the pond?
Like all pond fish, the minnow needs a pond that is at least 1 m deep for long-term free-range husbandry, in which it can overwinter below the frost line. In summer, the water temperature should not exceed 20 °C.
Ideally, the pond is in semi-shade. Minnows are lively animals that like to swim at the surface of the pond. Since she oxygen-rich water need, should Using a pond aerator be taken into consideration.
Can minnows be socialized with goldfish?
Purists will object to the socialization of minnows with non-biotopic fish. However, the socialization of minnows with goldfish is well tolerated.
What forms of minnows are commercially available?
The wild form of the minnow shows variable characteristics in the drawing pattern. The trade also offers a gold-colored form.
With the rainbow minnow, which is also frequently offered in the trade (Notropis chromomus) from the southern states of the USA, however, the minnow is not closely related.
Can native minnows be taken from open-air waters?
In Germany the minnow is protected. It must therefore not be taken from natural bodies of water.