Fathead Minnow, Pimephales promelas

 

Physical Description: 
�	Somewhat deep and compressed body
�	Dorsal fin origin above or a little behind pelvic fin base 
�	Medium-sized eye
�	Small, terminal or slightly subterminal mouth; short, blunt snout
�	Straw-olive or brown back, silver side, silver-white belly
�	Faint dark side stripe
�	Breeding male somewhat yellow in color

Similar species: 
�	Bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus) 

Mean body size:
�	Adults are 40-60 mm total length 

Habitat:
�	Warm streams in pools and in ponds and lakes 

Distribution in VA:
�	Introduced to Tennessee, Big Sandy, New, Roanoke, York, and Potomac drainages
            
Food Habits:  
�	Insects, detritus, and algae

Reproductive Habits: 
�	Mature in 1 year
�	Spawning occurs May through August in water 15-32�C
�	Fecundity is 6,803-10,164 eggs per female 

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
�	Popular as a bait fish

References:       

Jenkins, R.E and N.M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

Goldfish Carp Grass Carp Silver Carp Golden Shiner Mtn. Redbelly Dace So. Redbelly Dace Rosyside Dace Longnose Dace Blacknose Dace Blacknose Dace Stoneroller Pearl Dace Fallfish Tonguetied Minnow Creek Chub Cutlips Minnow Bull Chub Bluehead Chub River Chub Slender Chub Streamline Chub Blotched Chub Kanawha Minnow Fatlips Minnow Stargazing Minnow Bigeye Chub Highback Chub Spotfin Chub Bigmouth Chub Whitetail Shiner Steelcolor Shiner Satinfin Shiner Spotfin Shiner Warpaint Shiner Crescent Shiner White Shiner Common Shiner Striped Shiner Mountain Shiner Rosefin Shiner Rosyface Shiner Tennessee Shiner Saffron Shiner Redlip Shiner Silver Shiner Popeye Shiner Telescope Shiner New River Shiner Sawfin Shiner Mirror Shiner Swallowtail Shiner Emerald Shiner Spottail Shiner Bridle Shiner Swallowtail Shiner Fieryblack Shiner Turquoise Shiner Fathead Minnow Fallfish Continue Browsing Families..... Petromyzontidae, Lampreys Polyodontidae, Paddlefish Acipenseridae, Sturgeons Lepisosteidae, Gars Amiidae, Bowfins Anguillidae, Freshwater Eels Amblyopsidae, Cavefishes Ictaluridae, Catfish Percopsidae, Trout-Perches Salmonidae, Trouts Clupeidae, Herrings Esocidae, Pikes Aphredoderidae, Pirate Perches Umbridae, Mudminnows Fundulidae, Killifishes Poeciliidae, Livebearers Cyprinidae, Minnows Catostomidae, Suckers Gasterosteidae, Sticklebacks Atherinidae, Silversides Cottidae, Sculpins Sciaenidae, Drums Percidae, Perches Moronidae, Striped Basses Centrarchidae, Sunfishes