Topminnow(Fundulus cingulatus) as an Aquarium Species

by Robert Rice

Deep in the secluded creeks, ditches and pools in the far Southeastern United States lives a forgotten relic. A discarded Uncle of sorts, the "pink lemonade" killie fish. He is small (less than 5 inches) beautiful,durable and the premiere of the Fundulus clan. Yet he is a total unknown. A few odd ball fisheries personnel know him, and even fewer collectors keep him. They and no one else know this star of the heavens that is the glorious killie fish I call the pink lemonade killie. Which is a shame because he like many North American species deserves a place in home aquariums. For a variety of reasons American Aquarist always seem to look overseas before they look here at home. Until public awareness increases this small fish will have little support in the conservation community or with Aquarist.

His colors can be described as intense. His fins radiate deep pink while his body holds deep stripes of the same color. All wrapped up in a golden background. Wow you say, what's the downside of this little gem? There is but only one. It's that North America's co habitators have virtually ignored this little fish. Thus it remains a life history and ecological mystery. While ichthyologist ponder it's supposed proper genus and species it remains a total recluse in the aquarist, fisherman and general publics eye.

If there ever was an easy to reproduce, easy to acquire unloved species this guy is it. There are NO life histories published anywhere. This little top minnow lives in total ambiguity. He is tough ,colorful and unloved. I know of no one outside myself who has bred this fish! Which if you know me is a pretty sad indictment of things. I keep a dozen tanks or so most of them in my garage with no filters, heaters or power toys of any kind. Inspite of my many short comings as an Aquarist F. Cingulatus did the deed and bred in my nasty ole garage tank. So if a yutz like me can successfully breed this species imagine what would happen if Serious Aquarist took up the torch!

I typically collect F. Cingultus in small ditches and swamps with regular water flow. In locations with an erratic flow they don't exist. I believe that they can take turbity and temperature extremes but can not stand stagnant water. With just a small flow the water remains fresh enough to support the pink lemonade killie. In it's range there is a huge diversity in color. It goes from a almost colorless green to the radiant pink lemonade version I collect locally. I have noticed that in locations with a red algae you will find the pink version. In locations with darker water you get the green version. Obviously this adaptation helps them avoid predation. For the Aquarist this range of color promises to lead to other color morphs with just a bit of selective breeding. In many locations I find them the most common species . So if you are near the Gulf Coast you are within driving distance of the pink lemonade killie.

Once in the tank they are very easy to care for. Being top minnows they spend the bulk of their time ducking in and out of floating vegetation. Chasing each other around, basically disinterested in the other inhabitants of their tank. So with their top minnow habits they make an excellent community tank species. They feed eagerly on flake and frozen foods. They are vegetation spawners with the males pushing the females into the weeds where a few eggs are laid in the roots of floating plants. Watersprite, Nitella and Java Moss make excellent choices for the job. You can also try the tried and true artificial spawning mop. The young are very durable as a matter of fact in my main tank the trio I have has produced young. I know have a handful of half inch Cingulatus tussling with my juvenile Dollar Sunfish for food.

Thanks to my 7 year daughter Erin who named the local variety. Her name stuck with the local children and then their parents as they set up tanks for their children and wanted local species. Now all my collecting buddies are calling it the pink lemonade killie so it looks like Cingulatus now has a common name. Go figure from the mouths of Babes.

Article compliments of Native Fish Conservancy