Motherless Minnows?

[Elton]

Posted on behalf of Dave:

 

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What are motherless minnows, what do they look like?

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[davidP]

Leucaspius delineatus or Belica. Look here for a description or here or here for some pictures.

[chesters1]

they look sadder than ordinary ones ,and starve because father can only cook beans on toast

[Newt]

And from Fishbase.org some details:

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Identification:

Dorsal spines (total): 2-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 10-12; Vertebrae : 36-42. A small fish with large silvery scales and an inconspicuous intense silvery band along each side. Lateral line incomplete, sometimes absent, with perforated scales. Anal fin longer than dorsal fin. Mouth turns upwards. The lower edge of the body between the pelvic fins and the vent forms a sharp keel. The scales are very loosely attached and fall away if the fish is handled.

 

Biology:

Occurs in large schools which are most numerous in autumn. Found between weeds in shallow pools and creeks, shallow lakes, peat and clay excavations and canals. It is exposed to the stormy flow of water (in spring, autumn and winter), but usually choose quite places like small bays, plots behind bottom stones extending out of water and concrete foundations of bridges. In autumn, the schools of fish keep to the surface and rarely go to the pelagic zone. Towards winter, the schools break up and the number of fish per unit of river square decreases rapidly (Ref. 27674); they spend the winter in deeper waters (Ref. 41592). Feeds on phyto and zooplankton and on flying insects (Ref. 27368). Reproduction takes place in April-May, among vegetation. Spawn is guarded by the male (Ref. 30578).

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