Eurasian minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus)

Scientific name: Phoxinus phoxinus Linnaeus, 1758

The Eurasian minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 2–20°C (36–68°F).

Eurasian minnow care at a glance

Temperature: 2–20°C (36–68°F)

Biology

Gregarious. Found in a wide range of cold and well oxygenated habitats from small, fast-flowing streams to large Nordic lowland rivers and from small upland lakes to large oligotrophic lakes. Usually occurs in association with salmonid fishes. Feeds on algae, plant debris (in rivers), mollusks, crustaceans and insects. Spawns over clean gravel areas in flowing water or on wave-washed shores of lakes. Overwinters in coarse substrate or in deep pools with low current. Migrates upstream for spawning in shallow gravel areas. Important laboratory fish, for research on sensory organs of fishes. Mean maximum age is 6 years. Locally threatened due to pollution and excessive stocking of species of Salmo.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Phoxinus phoxinus
Family: Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order: Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 14.0
Common length: 7.0
Environment: Freshwater; brackish;; pH range: 7.0 - 7.5; dH range: 10 - 20 demersal; potamodromous
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: Eurasia: basins of Atlantic, North and Baltic Seas, Arctic and northern Pacific Ocean, from Garonne (France) eastward to Anadyr and Amur drainages and Korea; Ireland (possibly introduced), Great Britain northward to 58?N. Scandinavia and Russia northernmost extremity, Rh?ne drainage. Recorded from upper and middle Volga and Ural drainages, Lake Balkhash (Kazakhstan) and upper Syr-Darya drainage (Aral basin), but else identifications need verification. At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction. Several species are confused under Phoxinus phoxinus.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Potential pest
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; bait: usually
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=1-6; tmax=13; fec=200)