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Malayan minnow (Malayochela maassi) — Cyprinidae

Malayan minnow

Malayochela maassi
Family: Cyprinidae

The Malayan minnow (Malayochela maassi) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
4 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Brunei Darsm, Indonesia, Malaysia

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Description

The Malayan minnow is a small cyprinid (Danionidae) from clear fresh water of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a slender, laterally compressed, silvery body with a fine dark longitudinal line. As a schooling fish it swims near the surface of forest streams and rivers and snaps at insects falling on the water, larvae and small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Malayan minnow?

The Malayan minnow has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Malayan minnow live?

The Malayan minnow lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. Asia: Brunei Darsm, Indonesia, Malaysia

How big does the Malayan minnow get?

The Malayan minnow grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Malayan minnow dangerous to humans?

No, the Malayan minnow is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Malayan minnow (Malayochela maassi) — Cyprinidae — 2
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — UF
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All data

Identification

English name
Malayan minnow sourced
Scientific name
Malayochela maassi
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Asia: Brunei Darsm, Indonesia, Malaysia sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Cyprinidae

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