Eurasian Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus)
| Eurasian Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Eurasian Minnow |
| Name Lat. | Phoxinus phoxinus |
| Family | Minnows |
| Family lat. | Leuciscidae |
| Order | Carps |
| Order lat. | Cypriniformes |
| Origin | Europe, Asia |
| Habitat | Streams |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 |
| Behavior | Peaceful |
| Keeping | Swarm |
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Reproduction | Egg scatterer |
| Breeding | Moderately difficult |
| Life Span | 8-11 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 8-12 cm |
| Temperature | 4-20 °C |
| Hardness | 10-20 °dH |
| Aquarium | ~ 240 l or ponds |
| US Units | |
| Size | 3"-5" |
| Temperature | 39-68 °F |
| Hardness | 178-356 ppm |
| Aquarium | ~ 65 gal or ponds |
Distribution and habitat
The range of the minnow extends from Western Europe to Siberia and is absent only in Southern Europe. They live in clean, oxygen-rich flowing waters and lakes, but also in brackish water zones of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, where they stay near the shore in often large shoals close to the water surface.
Maintenance
The pond should be furnished with pond, floating and especially oxygenating underwater plants (milfoil, waterweed, hornwort, etc.), large river pebbles, and a substrate of sand and round-grained gravel, and provide plenty of free swimming space.
When maintaining in a cold water aquarium, make sure there is plenty of swimming space in addition to perimeter planting and plenty of hiding places (roots, rocks). A sandy substrate and oxygen-rich water with some current is ideal
No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite may be detectable in the water, the nitrate value may not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter adapted to the water volume should not be missing.
Diet
They feed mainly on insects, small crustaceans, worms and algae, as well as approach food taken from the water surface. The food supply consists of live or frozen cyclops, daphnia, tubifex and mosquito larvae or a frozen food mixture. High quality pond food (granules, pellets, flakes) is also often accepted after habituation
Behaviour and compatibility
They are lively schooling fish that do not exhibit any aggressive or incompatible behaviors. At least 10, but preferably more minnows should be kept together. They can be socialized well with other fish, such as gudgeons (Gobio gobio).
In principle, only mutually compatible fish species with similar demands on water quality and water temperature should be socialized.
Reproduction and breeding
The sexes are difficult to distinguish. The somewhat slimmer males are somewhat darker in color at spawning time and have a reddish belly. Both sexes get a spawning rash, the females only on the head.
The spawning season is from April to June. They spawn in shallow water on rocky or gravel-covered bottoms, rarely on aquatic plants. The eggs stick to the rocks and the larvae hatch after 6-10 days. They grow very slowly and are sexually mature only after 3-4 years.
Important
Water temperatures above 20 °C are not tolerated permanently
If they are overwintered in the pond, sufficient depth and oxygen supply (filter, oxygen dispenser, ice free holder) must be ensured
At temperatures below 8-10 °C the metabolism of the fish slows down and food is no longer accepted, feeding must be stopped accordingly. If the temperature drops further, they hibernate near the bottom. In spring, with rising temperatures, feeding can slowly be resumed. Feeding may also be necessary during prolonged warm periods in winter.
The well-being of the fish should be monitored regularly. A regular partial water change, according to the pond size is recommended, even if the pollutant load has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the pond or aquarium
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: Werner Winter; Image: petdata
Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); RIEHL & BAENSCH (2006): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische; Harri Deutsch Verlag
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF