FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Fathead minnow (pimephales promelas) is a fish species that belongs to the family cyprinidae in the order cypriniformes. Minnows are opportunistic feeders and will feed on whatever they set their eyes on. Fathead minnow (pimephales promelas) are omnivorous in nature and eat food like plant and animal material. They have a very short lifespan and spawn multiple times in a period of 12 months. Most fathead minnows die after spawning, but the juveniles grow at a rapid speed and, after 45 days, start resembling adults. Fathead minnow's mosquito control qualities make this a popular species for managing the problem of mosquito larvae.
Fathead minnow fishes mostly have a dark olive upper body, and the underparts are silver. They also have a color variant, which is orangish pink in color. They are social animals and often are found in schools. Here are some interesting facts about the fathead minnow culture for your personal use. Thereafter, do check our other articles on milkfish facts and ornate butterflyfish facts as well.
Fathead minnow (scientific name pimephales promelas) is a fish of short length and a short lifespan. They are mostly found in slow streams, ponds and lakes in their North American Habitat. The fathead minnow water quality requirement for survival is of clear and fresh water. Their population is abundant and widely spread in Northern America because of their tolerance to varied environmental conditions.
Fathead minnow (pimephales promelas) also known as the rosy red minnow belongs to the class of ray-finned fishes or Actinopterygii. This aquatic species is widespread throughout Northern America and are freshwater fishes. When it comes to the appearance and description, the fathead minnow is a chubby fish, with a blunt and rounded snout along with short but rounded fins.
There are many fathead minnows in the world and they are listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN. This common bait fish can be found in regions of Northern America, Minnesota, Texas, Canada and Mexico.
The fathead minnow is an aquarium animal that primarily lives in marshy wetlands, lakes, pond, streams, rivers, and almost any waterbody. This game fish is mostly found in freshwater and feeds on both plant and animal material for survival.
A fathead minnow is known for its ability to live in almost any type of water body. Habitats also include water bodies with low levels of oxygen. Popular fathead minnow habitats include turbid ditches, murky ponds, creeks, marshes, streams, rivers, ponds. This species is most commonly used as baitfish in the United States because it is the favorite food of other popular game fish like rock bass, crappies, perch etc.
Fathead minnows are school fish and live with other members of their species. These common game fish have short lives and mate several times in a span of a year. Most fathead minnows die after the first year.
Fathead minnow life cycle is short. The life expectancy of fathead minnows is 2-2.5 years. Most species of fathead minnows die after they reproduce multiple times in a single year. Baby fathead minnows develop at a rapid speed and look similar to the adults after a period of 45 days.
Fathead minnow spawning and the fathead minnow breeding males' reproductive parts occur every 4-5 days, but on average, this aquatic bait fish might even spawn after two days. A female fathead minnow eggs release 100-200 eggs every spawn. Larger specimens of female fathead minnows can lay 200-400 eggs as well. They are egg clusters that lay their eggs under a flat rock or in the reproductive caves. The preferred water temperature for breeding is 68-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Fatheads use their dorsal pad as a defense against predators who might prey on their eggs as well as to clean the eggs, till the eggs hatch .
The conservation status of aquatic fathead minnows is listed as the least concern, and their population is abundant and widespread. This fish of North America is a common native egg-layer who is widespread in North America and the number of offspring is increasing steadily. This aquatic fish species is so easily found that they are used as baitfish. Fathead minnow care is essential to ensure that the species that has been introduced across the United States continues its existence unabated.
When it comes to their appearance, the fathead minnow has a dark olive color upper body and the underparts and sides are silver in color with a small dorsal fin. The other color variant of fathead minnows, known as rosy-red minnows, have an overall orangish-pink body. They are ray-finned fishes and have a body length of 2-3 in (5-7 cm), and weigh only a few grams. The head is blunt and they have a small mouth. Breeding males have a huge growth on the nape and around 16 white breeding tubercles on the snout.
Fatheads are not cute and look like normal aquatic fish with no different physical characteristics and unimpressive dorsal fin. Fatheads are bred in aquariums and for fishermen as they are used as bait fish to catch other large fishes. They are not kept as pets as they spawn multiple times. They cannot be separated from their group as they are school fish.
Fathead minnows are good listeners and can listen to natural sounds underwater with low oxygen levels and save themselves from approaching danger. Fatheads have poor eyesight. They use various chemicals and body displays for communication.
A fathead minnow is only 2-3 in (5-7 cm) of length. Natural females are smaller than male fathead minnows. Fatheads have a bodyweight of few grams and are smaller than blackhead minnows.
Fathead minnows swim at a moderate pace. The fry of fathead minnows swim even slower in mild low oxygen levels of water temperatures and become easy prey to predator fish like bluegills. The exact speed at which they swim in natural low oxygen water temperatures is currently unknown. They use their sense of hearing while swimming to escape from predators.
Fathead minnows only grow about 2.75-3.94 in (7-10 cm). Some male fathead minnow size specimens can grow bigger than that and the largest specimen of fathead minnows ever recorded was a male weighing 0.24 oz (0.006 kg) and measured 3.11 in (7.8 cm). The average body weight of fathead minnows is between 1.5 lb (0.7 kg).
There are no distinct names for the male and female species of fathead minnows. They are only called male fathead minnows and female fathead minnows.
A baby fathead minnow is called a fry or larvae in the lakes or a pond. They are slow swimmers and are often captured by other fish. They also grow at a rapid speed and, after 45 days, look similar to adults.
Fathead minnows eat both animal and plant material in mild temperatures. Fathead minnow food and fathead minnow diet consist of algae, zooplanktons, protozoa, debris of duck and goose, mosquito larvae, insects, invertebrates, decaying leaf litter or other vegetation, and fish like stone rollers, chubs, fatheads, crustaceans, fallfish, carps, shiners, dances.
No the fathead minnows population is not consumed by human beings but they are used as bait fish or feeder fish to catch bigger fish. Although, fathead minnow fry sounds delicious.
A pet fathead minnow is not preferred. Their population live short lives and prefer living with their school. After mating for one breeding males season, most fathead minnows usually die. Minnows should not be kept as pets, just because they only live for around a year and spawn and feed throughout their lifetime.
The male fathead minnows exhibit the phenomenon of allopaternal care which suggests that they acquire and care for the eggs of other males.
Fathead minnow diseases may vary from critical to serious.
Fathead minnows usually spawn after every 4-5 days and release 100-200 eggs per spawn. But, it is possible that they could spawn after a span of two days. Most fathead minnows die after spawning in the first breeding season.
Ostariophysan fishes, which include fathead minnows, possess an alarm substance, or Schreckstoff also called fright substance which increases their survival. Predators are attracted to this alarm pheromone and let the prey escape as other predatory fishes interrupt their feeding activity.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these mutton snapper facts, or cherry barb facts.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our salmon coloring pages.
*Please note that this is an image of an Eurasian minnow, not a fathead minnow. If you have an image of a fathead minnow please let us know at [email protected]
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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