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Southern redbelly dace

Phoxinus erythrogaster

FreshwaterFish

Southern redbelly dace (Phoxinus erythrogaster)
(c) Dominic, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Temperature
57–70°F
14–21°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
3.9 in
10 cm
Minimum tank
61 gal
230 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
United States

Overview

The southern redbelly dace is an active, mostly peaceful shoaling fish for the middle water of a coolwater community. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.

Did you know

The southern redbelly dace's species name, erythrogaster, comes from Greek words meaning red belly. For a fish from cool North American creeks, the spring breeding male's display holds its own against many tropical species.

Caring for the southern redbelly dace

A tank of 61 gal (230 L) or larger gives an active shoal of southern redbelly dace the space it needs. Give them brisk current over a gravel and pebble base. Some rock, driftwood and hardy planting help, but flow, oxygen and cool temperatures matter most.

Cool, clean, well oxygenated water is essential, so keep them in an unheated or lightly cooled tank rather than a tropical one. Aim for 57 to 70°F (14 to 21°C) and a near neutral pH of 6.5 to 7.5. They are eager feeders that take flake, small pellets and frozen or live foods, and they graze on soft algae too.

Keep them in a group of at least eight, since a strong shoal keeps them confident and encourages the males to color up. They do well with other temperate, gentle species of similar size.

In the breeding season, males light up with a brilliant red belly and fins set against yellow. Southern redbelly dace scatter their eggs, often over the gravel nests of other stream fish. Breeding them on purpose in an aquarium is difficult.

Good to know

The southern redbelly dace is a North American member of the family Cyprinidae. It carries two dark stripes along a golden flank. Today it is often placed in the genus Chrosomus rather than Phoxinus.

In the wild

The southern redbelly dace is native to clear, cool streams and spring-fed creeks across the central and eastern United States. It lives over gravel in flowing, well oxygenated water, often near undercut banks and cover.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The southern redbelly dace is a mostly peaceful, schooling 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 southern redbelly dace need?

A southern redbelly dace needs at least 61 gal (230 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a southern redbelly dace need?

A southern redbelly dace is comfortable at 57–70°F (14–21°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a southern redbelly dace eat?

A southern redbelly dace is an eager feeder that takes flake, small pellets and frozen or live foods. It grazes on soft algae too.

How big does a southern redbelly dace get?

An adult southern redbelly dace reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).

Does a southern redbelly dace need a group?

Yes. A southern redbelly dace is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How can you tell a male southern redbelly dace from a female?

Males light up in the breeding season, with a brilliant red belly and fins set against yellow.

How does a southern redbelly dace breed?

Southern redbelly dace scatter their eggs, often over the gravel nests of other stream fish. Breeding them on purpose in an aquarium is difficult.

Related species