Rosy Red / Fathead Minnow Care Guide
Pimephales promelas · Freshwater Fish
What Rosy Red / Fathead Minnow look like
Pimephales promelas is a small cypriniform minnow with a blunt head, compact body, and short fins. The rosy red strain is a leucistic aquarium and feeder form, while wild-type fish are olive to gray with a darker lateral area.
Behavior & temperament
These are hardy, peaceful, active schooling fish for cool-water aquaria or ponds. Keep them in groups, quarantine feeder-source fish carefully, and avoid mixing them with warm tropical species long term because they prefer cooler, well-oxygenated water.
Diet & feeding
Fathead Minnows are omnivorous micropredators and grazers. Feed small quality pellets or flakes with daphnia, bloodworms, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, spirulina, and occasional vegetable matter.
Behind the name
Pimephales means fat head; promelas means before black or dark-fronted, referring to breeding male coloration.
Plan your tank
Check the numbers before you buy: tank volume, a stocking plan, cycle progress, water changes, and your ongoing care routine.
Keeping Rosy Red / Fathead Minnow?
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