Fathead Minnow
Pimephales promelas
The Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) is a peaceful fish that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 75 litres (20 US gallons), water held at 50-72°F, and a pH of 6-8. Always keep a group of at least 6 - they feel safest in numbers.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Asia / Europe (varies)
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Fathead Minnow Tank Setup
Give them a tank of at least 75 litres (20 US gallons). As open-water swimmers they care more about swimming length than height, so a longer tank is ideal. Keep the water at 50-72°F with a pH around 6-8, and avoid sudden swings. Always keep a group of at least 6 of their own kind - kept alone or in pairs they tend to turn shy, nippy, or wash out in colour.
What Do Fathead Minnows Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Fathead Minnow Tank Mates
Keep in groups of at least 6. The Fathead Minnow is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's a shoaling fish, so settle a group of 6 or more of its own kind before adding anything else - a stressed, lonely fish is far more likely to nip or hide. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Fathead Minnows Good for Beginners?
Often recommended to beginners, but only after the tank is cycled and you can keep a proper school - not three fish in a new setup.
Fathead Minnow - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Fathead Minnows need?
Fathead Minnows need a tank of at least 75 litres (20 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
How many Fathead Minnows should I keep together?
Keep a group of at least 6. Fathead Minnows are a shoaling species and become stressed, lose their colour, or hide when kept singly or in pairs.
What water parameters do Fathead Minnows need?
Keep them at 50-72°F with a pH of 6-8, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Fathead Minnows eat?
Fathead Minnows are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Fathead Minnows good for beginners?
Yes - Fathead Minnows are a good beginner choice once the tank is fully cycled and you can keep a proper group. They are hardy but still need stable water and a school to feel secure.
Common mistakes with Fathead Minnows
- Buying fewer than 6 - Fathead Minnows need a proper school to feel secure; isolated individuals hide, fail to colour up, or become stressed.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Fathead Minnows
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- AxolotlPredator - Axolotl will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Crescent BettaPredator - Crescent Betta will eat or injure smaller tank mates
