FreshwaterBrackishSaltwater
Ninespine stickleback
Pungitius pungitius
Gasterosteidae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 9 cm
- Body shape
- Elongated
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 28 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
- Temperament
- Missing
- Swims
- Missing
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Water values
Smallest tank
Range
NativeIntroduced
Lives wild in Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, and 15 more countries.
Introduced to Austria.
More about the species
Description
Found in shallow vegetated areas of lakes, ponds, and pools of sluggish streams; sometimes in open water over sand. Marine populations found near shore and move into fresh water to spawn. There appears to be seasonal movements inshore to shallow water in the spring for spawning, and, in the fall, offshore to deep water, or even to the less saline parts of the sea, by the young and adults that survive spawning. Nerito-pelagic. Feed on small invertebrates; also on aquatic insects and their eggs and larvae. Eggs are found in nests constructed from plant material. Males build, guard and aerate the nest where the eggs are deposited. Females grow faster and live longer than do other males. Males seldom live beyond age three, due to heavy post-spawning mortality, but females may live to age five or more. When abundant, it is preyed upon by other fishes; also preyed by birds. May be used as human or dog food or as a source of oil.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Gasteracanthus pungitius
- Gasterosteus blanchardi
- Gasterosteus burgundianus
- Gasterosteus concinnus
- Gasterosteus dekayi
- Gasterosteus globiceps
In other languages
- Småstikling, Nipigget stingsild
- Småspigg
- Nipigget hundestejle, Nippigget hundestejle
- Kymmenpiikki
- Barnstickle, Barnystickle, Barnytickle, Branchy, Branstickle, Doctor, Nine-spined stickleback, Nine-spined stikleback, Pinfish, Prickley, Prickly, Prickly back, Spanicle, Spannistickle, Spanny, Spannystickle, Spantickle, Sparnicle, Sparny, Sparnytickle, Spawn, Spawnykettle, Spawnytickle, Stickleback, Ten-spine stickleback, Ten-spined stickleback, nine-spined stickleback, Ten-spined stikleback, Thornback, Thorny back, Tiny burnstickle
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 North American aquarium5 min read
Streams and ponds in North America are often cool. How to set up an aquarium without a heater, with pygmy sunfish, shiners and darters.
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.