FreshwaterBrackish
Eurasian minnow
Phoxinus phoxinus
Leuciscidae, Phoxininae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 14 cm
- Body shape
- Elongated
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 73 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
Native
Lives wild in Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, and 33 more countries.
Videos
Phoxinus phoxinus #shorts
Oliver KnottJun 22, 2025
The minnow - Phoxinus phoxinus #shorts
Oliver KnottJun 11, 2025
More about the species
Description
Gregarious. Found in a wide range of cold and well oxygenated habitats from small, fast-flowing streams to large Nordic lowland rivers and from small upland lakes to large oligotrophic lakes. Usually occurs in association with salmonid fishes. Feeds on algae, plant debris (in rivers), mollusks, crustaceans and insects. Spawns over clean gravel areas in flowing water or on wave-washed shores of lakes. Overwinters in coarse substrate or in deep pools with low current. Migrates upstream for spawning in shallow gravel areas. Important laboratory fish, for research on sensory organs of fishes. Mean maximum age is 6 years. Locally threatened due to pollution and excessive stocking of species of Salmo.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Cyprinus aphya
- Cyprinus chrysoprasius
- Cyprinus galian
- Cyprinus isetensis
- Cyprinus lumaireul
- Cyprinus morella
In other languages
- Ørekyt, Orekyte
- Elritsa, Äling, Kvidd
- Almindelig elritse, Elrits, Elritse, Europæisk Elritse
- Mutu
- Common minnow, European minnow, Italian minnow, Minnow, Zaisan minnow
Articles
All articles
How to set up an Asian aquarium5 min read
Two aquariums from Southeast Asia: calm forest streams and peat swamps with soft, brown water, and fast mountain streams with cool, oxygen-rich water.
How to set up a European aquarium5 min read
A coldwater aquarium with European fish and plants, without a heater. The water follows the seasons, and summer heat is the biggest problem.
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.
Quarantine for new fish3 min read
Why new fish should live in a tank of their own for a few weeks before they move in, what you need, and what to look for.