TankBud

Golden topminnow

Fundulus chrysotus

FreshwaterFish

Golden topminnow (Fundulus chrysotus)
Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
59–75°F
15–24°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
3 in
7.5 cm
Minimum tank
22 gal
85 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg depositor
Rarity
Rare
Family
Fundulidae
Origin
United States

Overview

The golden topminnow is a hardy, peaceful North American killifish that cruises near the surface of a cool, planted tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The golden topminnow's upturned mouth lets it pick insects straight off the surface film, where it spends most of its day.

Caring for the golden topminnow

Keep golden topminnows in a group of six or more, in a tank of at least 22 gal (85 L). That gives a small shoal room to cruise. They stay in the upper and middle water, so add floating plants and fit a tight, secure lid, since they are practiced jumpers. Plant the rest of the tank heavily.

Golden topminnows handle cooler water and do not need tropical heat, so the tank can run cool or unheated. Keep the water at 59 to 75°F (15 to 24°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 8.0, and keep the flow gentle.

Feed a mix of live and frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworms, along with some flake. They are peaceful and safe in a community tank. Males carry scattered red spots on top of the gold flecks both sexes share.

The female lays her eggs a few at a time among the roots of floating plants, over several weeks rather than in one batch. The eggs hatch in around two weeks. There is little formal record of controlled breeding, but it spawns willingly in a well-planted tank.

Good to know

The golden topminnow belongs to the topminnow family Fundulidae and is flecked with gold. It is not an annual killifish.

In the wild

Golden topminnows come from the still and slow waters of the southeastern United States, including swamps, ponds, ditches and vegetated pool edges. They hang near the surface among plants, waiting for insects to fall or drift by.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The golden topminnow is a peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a golden topminnow need?

A golden topminnow needs at least 22 gal (85 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a golden topminnow need?

A golden topminnow is comfortable at 59–75°F (15–24°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

What does a golden topminnow eat?

A golden topminnow eats a mix of live and frozen foods, such as mosquito larvae, daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworms. Give it some flake as well.

How big does a golden topminnow get?

An adult golden topminnow reaches about 3 in (7.5 cm).

Does a golden topminnow need a group?

Yes. A golden topminnow is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How can you tell a male golden topminnow from a female?

Males carry scattered red spots on top of the gold flecks that both sexes share.

How does a golden topminnow breed?

Golden topminnow females lay their eggs a few at a time among the roots of floating plants, over several weeks. The eggs hatch in around two weeks, and the fish spawn willingly in a well-planted tank.

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