All fish / Fundulidae

Golden Topminnow

Fundulus chrysotus

Also known as golden topminnow, golden killifish, golden ear, goldear killifish, fundulus chrysotus

The golden topminnow is a slim, flat-headed killifish with an olive to golden body. Males have red spots scattered over the flanks, and some show black speckling, while females are plainer with small dark dots. It is kept for its hardiness, its tolerance of unheated tanks, and its interesting surface-hunting behaviour among plants.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

15 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 8

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

One male with two or more females, or a larger group in a roomy tank

Diet

Carnivore: insect larvae, bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and quality flake or small pellets

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

South-eastern USA: coastal plain from South Carolina to Florida and west to Texas, north in the Mississippi basin

Breeding

It scatters eggs over several weeks among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops near the surface. The eggs take about two weeks to hatch and the fry will take newly hatched brine shrimp, so breeding is fairly easy if the eggs are moved away from the adults.

Good to know

Males can be quarrelsome with each other and may eat very small fish or fry, and they will jump, so use a tight lid. Collecting or moving wild fish may be restricted in some US states, so check local rules.