Sheepshead Minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus)

Sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) are a small species of pupfish native to the eastern coast of North America from Cape Cod south to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico as well as the West Indies. They typically inhabit brackish water estuaries, bays, saltmarshes, and lagoons with muddy or sandy bottoms. Sheepshead minnows are tolerant of a wide range of salinities and temperatures, and are often used in research. These fish are sexually dimorphic when mature. Juveniles are patterned with transverse dark bars which the females retain into maturity while the males do not. Breeding males develop a beautiful steel blue coloration on their upper body, mostly in front of the dorsal fin and often develop salmon pink coloration on their underside.  Sheepshead minnows are hardy and energetic captives that make for attractive and lively additions to a wide variety of brackish aquaria. Males can be territorial with each other but otherwise this fish does well in groups when given adequate