Sheepshead Minnow
Cyprinodon variegatus
The Sheepshead Minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) is a peaceful fish that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 100 litres (26 US gallons), water held at 68-81°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.
Sheepshead Minnow Tank Setup
Give them a tank of at least 100 litres (26 US gallons). As open-water swimmers they care more about swimming length than height, so a longer tank is ideal. Keep the water at 68-81°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 Sheepshead 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.
Sheepshead Minnow Tank Mates
Keep in groups of at least 6. The Sheepshead 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 Sheepshead 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.
Sheepshead Minnow - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Sheepshead Minnows need?
Sheepshead Minnows need a tank of at least 100 litres (26 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
How many Sheepshead Minnows should I keep together?
Keep a group of at least 6. Sheepshead Minnows are a shoaling species and become stressed, lose their colour, or hide when kept singly or in pairs.
What water parameters do Sheepshead Minnows need?
Keep them at 68-81°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 Sheepshead Minnows eat?
Sheepshead 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 Sheepshead Minnows good for beginners?
Yes - Sheepshead 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 Sheepshead Minnows
- Buying fewer than 6 - Sheepshead Minnows need a proper school to feel secure; isolated individuals hide, fail to colour up, or become stressed.
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 100 litres (26 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.
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 Sheepshead 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
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
