Three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus)

Scientific name: Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758

Three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus)

The Three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Gasterosteidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 4–20°C (39–68°F).

Three-spined stickleback care at a glance

Temperature
4–20°C (39–68°F)

Biology

Adults occur in fresh waters, estuaries and coastal seas. Anadromous, with numerous non-anadromous populations in brackish or pure freshwater, rarely in marine waters. In the sea, confined to coastal waters. In freshwater, adults prefer to live in small stream but may occur in a variety of habitats including lakes and large rivers. Inhabit shallow vegetated areas, usually over mud or sand. Form schools. Young associated with drifting seaweed. Juveniles move to the sea (anadromous populations) or to deeper, larger water bodies (freshwater populations) in July-August, forming large feeding schools. Feed on worms, crustaceans, larvae and adult aquatic insects, drowned aerial insects, and small fishes; has also been reported to feed on their own fry and eggs. Eggs are found in

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus
Family
Gasterosteidae (Sticklebacks and tubesnouts)
Order
Gasterosteiformes (Sticklebacks and Seamoths)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
11.0
Common length
5.1
Depth range
0–100 m (0–328 ft)
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; anadromous; depth range 0 - 100 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Circumpolar in Arctic and temperate regions, extending south to the Black Sea, southern Italy, Iberian Peninsula, North Africa; in Eastern Asia north of Japan (35?N), in North America north of 30-32?N; Greenland.
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.6-1.8; tm=1; tmax=4; Fec=80)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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