Eastern Mudminnow (Umbra pygmaea)

Eastern mudminnows (Umbra pygmaea) are a primitive species of fish, more closely related to pikes and pickerel, than actual minnows. These hardy fish, native to the east coast, often populate areas uninhabitable to other fish. Shallow, sluggish, heavily vegetated areas of swamps, streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes are the preferred habitat of this species, however they can survive in poor water qualities with lower oxygen and pH levels than most fish can tolerate. Eastern mudminnows make for fantastic aquarium fish as they are hardy, undemanding mini-predators that do very well in planted aquaria. Personally, they remind me a lot of miniature wolf fish or bowfin.  Currently available animals are field-collected and have gone through a preventative quarantine and treatments as necessary. Care Level: Beginner. Diet: Various aquatic invertebrates.  Adult Size: Typically 3”-4” although up to 5” is possible.  pH: 6.0-7.8, although they have been recorded anywhere from 3.5 to 8.1.  Water Tem