Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus)

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Mummichog

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Mummichog

Fundulus heteroclitus

38 Litres (10 US G.)

7.6-15.2cm (3-6 ")

sg

1 - 1.025

pH

5.7 - 8.4

7.8-23.9°C (46 -75 °F)

8-12 °d

1:1 M:F

Omnivore
Pellet Foods
Flake Foods
Live Foods
Other (See article)

1-5 years

Family

Fundulidae

This animal is available captive bred



Additional names

Atlantic killifish, Mud Minnow

Additional scientific names

Cobitis heteroclita, Fundulus fasciatus


Origin

Euryhaline (capable of living in freshwater, brackish, and saltwater). Freshwater populations known in places like Canada, but most famously known to inhabit estuaries, and even full-strength seawater along the Atlantic Coast from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to Northeastern Florida. Introduced to southern Portugal and southern Spain.

Sexing

Females have a brownish green body featuring 12 to 15 dusky vertical stripes, with green tinted dorsal and anal fins. Males are darker than females, with a green or olive body featuring 15 silver vertical stripes, and have yellow pectoral, pelvic and anal fins and have blue or orange markings present during spawning season.

Tank compatibility

Fairly peaceful, and are known to group, hence their common name "Mummichog" (see notes)

Diet

Will eat anything that fits in their mouths.

Feeding regime

Daily

Environment Specifics

A wide variety of aquariums can accomodate them (see origin), so it 's advisable to set it up as the same salinity as they were from, and acclimate if you'd like them in an aquarium with different salinity. They are noted to be able to survive in low-oxygen, and polluted habitats, with populations dwelling in those regions developing resistance to said pollutants..

Behaviour

Fairly docile.

Identification

A small grey fish with darker grey bars along the body.

Notes

  • The word "Mummichog" is derived from the Narragansett word "moamitteaúg", which means "going in crowds", referring to their schooling habit.

Pictures

Videos

Mummichogs in an aquarium: Mating:

External links