Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

They are active, peaceful, and highly social schooling fish. They spend most of their time darting around the tank together. Their constant activity can sometimes stress very shy or slow-moving tankmates.

Diet

Omnivore

Phoxinus phoxinus is an omnivore that accepts a wide variety of foods in captivity. In nature, they feed on small insects, crustaceans, and plant matter. A balanced diet should include high-quality flakes, micro-pellets, and regular offerings of live or frozen foods like daphnia or bloodworms.

Sex ratio

School

There is no strict sex ratio required, but maintaining a balanced group of males and females encourages natural schooling behavior. Males develop brighter colors and breeding tubercles during the spawning season. Keeping them in a decent-sized shoal is more important than specific ratios.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

It is best to feed these minnows small amounts one to two times per day. Only offer what they can completely consume within a couple of minutes to prevent water fouling. They are active foragers and will eagerly accept food whenever it is offered.

Bioload

The Eurasian minnow has a relatively low bioload for its size, but since it is a schooling fish, a group will collectively produce moderate waste. Standard biological and mechanical filtration is generally sufficient to maintain water quality. Regular water changes are recommended to keep the environment pristine and oxygen-rich.

Flow

Stagnant

Eurasian minnows naturally inhabit streams and rivers with moderate to fast currents. They appreciate a well-oxygenated tank with good water movement provided by powerheads or a strong filter return. A setup mimicking a riverine environment is ideal.

Reproduction

Oviparous

Breeding in aquaria is possible but requires a distinct cooling period over winter to trigger spawning in the spring. They are egg-scatterers and provide no parental care. A separate breeding tank with fine-leaved plants or spawning mops is needed to save the fry.

Compatibility & tankmates

This is a peaceful, schooling species that does best in a group of at least six individuals. They should only be kept with other coldwater or temperate species of similar size. Avoid keeping them with large, predatory fish or slow-moving species with long fins that might be nipped.

Tank level

Top/Middle

They are primarily mid-water and top-level swimmers, constantly on the move. They will occasionally venture to the bottom to forage for food scraps. Open swimming space is crucial for their well-being.