Top minnow (Belonesox belizanus)

Scientific name: Belonesox belizanus Kner, 1860

The Top minnow (Belonesox belizanus) is a freshwater fish of the family Poeciliidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 25–37°C (77–99°F).

Top minnow care at a glance

Slender, elongate fish with elongate jaws forming a prominent pointed beak. Scales very small and numerous.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Scientific name: Belonesox belizanus
Family: Poeciliidae (Poeciliids)
Order: Cyprinodontiformes (Live bearers, Killifishes and Rivulines)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 20.0
Common length: 9.7
Environment: Freshwater; brackish;; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 19 demersal; non-migratory
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: North and Central America: Laguna San Julian, northeast of Ciudad Veracruz in Mexico to Costa Rica. Southern Gulf of Mexico, southern Yucatan and along Central American coast south to Nicaragua. Introduced in freshwater in Florida.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec=100)