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Golden Topminnow
Fundulus chrysotus
📍 North America - Florida
The Golden Topminnow is a small, hardy killifish native to Florida with striking golden coloration and an upturned mouth adapted for surface feeding. These peaceful fish are excellent for beginners and community tanks, displaying active behavior and interesting feeding habits. They are prolific breeders and can thrive in a variety of water conditions.
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Care Guide
Diet
Golden Topminnows are surface feeders that primarily consume small insects and mosquito larvae in the wild. In captivity, feed them small live or frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, and mosquito larvae 1-2 times daily. They will also accept high-quality flake foods and small pellets, supplemented with occasional vegetable matter.
Behavior
Golden Topminnows are active, schooling fish that spend most of their time at the water surface hunting for food. They are peaceful and social, preferring to be kept in groups of at least 3-5 individuals. Males may display mild territorial behavior but rarely cause serious harm to tankmates.
Breeding
Golden Topminnows are prolific egg-scatterers that breed readily in aquarium conditions without special triggers. Provide fine-leaved plants or spawning mops for egg deposition. Fry are tiny and require infusoria or liquid fry food initially, graduating to newly hatched brine shrimp within days.
Tank Mates
Similar size and peaceful temperament, compatible water parameters
Small, peaceful community fish with overlapping water requirements
Bottom dweller that won't compete for surface food, peaceful
Peaceful invertebrate that occupies different water column
Closely related species with identical care requirements and temperament
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, flashing against surfaces, lethargy
Increase water temperature to 28-30°C (82-86°F) gradually, use aquarium salt at 1 teaspoon per gallon, perform daily 25% water changes, treat with copper-free ich medication if needed
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, fin loss
Perform 50% water change immediately, improve water quality and aeration, use antibacterial medication, ensure pristine water conditions to prevent recurrence
Velvet Disease (Oodinium)
Fine golden dust on body, rapid breathing, loss of appetite, rubbing against surfaces
Increase aeration and temperature to 28°C (82°F), use copper-based medication following label directions, perform daily water changes, darken tank to reduce stress
Bacterial Infection
Open sores, cloudy eyes, swollen abdomen, loss of appetite, erratic swimming
Isolate affected fish in quarantine tank, perform daily 50% water changes, use broad-spectrum antibiotic medication, maintain optimal water parameters
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Quick Facts
- diet
- omnivore - small insects, mosquito larvae, small crustaceans, and plant matter
- lifespan
- 2-3 years
- max size
- 4 cm (1.5 in)
- tank size
- 10 gallons minimum
- temperament
- peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.5-7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 5-15 dGH
- temperature
- 64–75°F (18–24°C)