Fathead minnow
Pimephales promelas
Summary 2
Family: Cyprinidae
Fathead minnows(Pimephales promelas) prefer ponds and slow-moving streams. They are tolerant of a wide range of environmental factors, including pollution and poor water quality. But they can be found in healthy aquatic ecosystems as well. Tend to be most abundant when there are not many other fishes present. Often used as bait and marketed as “rosy reds” or “feeder tuffies.”
How to recognize: A relatively tall and stocky minnow. Mouth is strongly upturned. Scales in front of the fin on the back are much smaller than the scales near the tail. Up to 4 inches /10 centimeters long.
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