Easy carePeacefulSchool of 6+Asia / Europe

Pike Topminnow

Cyprinodontiformes sp.

The Pike Topminnow (Cyprinodontiformes sp.) is a peaceful fish that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 165 litres (44 US gallons), water held at 73-82°F, and a pH of 6-8. Always keep a group of at least 6 - they feel safest in numbers.

Care levelEasy

TemperamentPeaceful

Min tank size44 US gal

pH range6-8

Temperature73-82°F

Max size7.9 in (20.0 cm)

Captive lifespan5-10 years

SchoolingYes · 6+ recommended

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.

Pike Topminnow Tank Setup

Give them a tank of at least 165 litres (44 US gallons). As open-water swimmers they care more about swimming length than height, so a longer tank is ideal. Keep the water at 73-82°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. They reach about 20 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.

What Do Pike Topminnows 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.

Pike Topminnow Tank Mates

Keep in groups of at least 6. The Pike Topminnow is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. At around 20 cm fully grown, it needs tank mates that can hold their own against its size and appetite. 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 Pike Topminnows 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.

Pike Topminnow - frequently asked questions

What size tank do Pike Topminnows need?

Pike Topminnows need a tank of at least 165 litres (44 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.

How many Pike Topminnows should I keep together?

Keep a group of at least 6. Pike Topminnows are a shoaling species and become stressed, lose their colour, or hide when kept singly or in pairs.

What water parameters do Pike Topminnows need?

Keep them at 73-82°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 Pike Topminnows eat?

Pike Topminnows 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 Pike Topminnows good for beginners?

Yes - Pike Topminnows 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 Pike Topminnows

Buying fewer than 6 - Pike Topminnows need a proper school to feel secure; isolated individuals hide, fail to colour up, or become stressed.
Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 165 litres (44 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.

Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.