Home · Cyprinidae · Tweddle's minnow
Tweddle's minnow (Opsaridium tweddleorum) — Cyprinidae

Tweddle's minnow

Opsaridium tweddleorum
Family: Cyprinidae

The Tweddle's minnow (Opsaridium tweddleorum) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Malawi, Mozambique

Want the complete picture on the Tweddle's minnow?

Get the app

Description

The Tweddle's minnow is a cyprinid (Danionidae) from fresh water of the Lake Malawi basin in East Africa. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a slender, streamlined, silvery body with a terminal mouth. As a fast, schooling fish it swims in clear, flowing rivers and lakes and hunts insects, larvae and small invertebrates; to spawn it migrates upstream. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Tweddle's minnow?

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

Where does the Tweddle's minnow live?

The Tweddle's minnow lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. Africa: Malawi, Mozambique

How big does the Tweddle's minnow get?

The Tweddle's minnow grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Tweddle's minnow dangerous to humans?

No, the Tweddle's 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

Tweddle's minnow (Opsaridium tweddleorum) — Cyprinidae — 2
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Tweddle's minnow (Opsaridium tweddleorum) — Cyprinidae — 3
Zinzi Somana (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Tweddle's minnow (Opsaridium tweddleorum) — Cyprinidae — 4
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Tweddle's minnow (Opsaridium tweddleorum) — Cyprinidae — 5
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Tweddle's minnow?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Tweddle's minnow is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Tweddle's minnow sourced
Scientific name
Opsaridium tweddleorum
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Dwarf sanjika verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.0 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
Africa: Malawi, Mozambique 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

Same genus Opsaridium

More from the family Cyprinidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Tweddle's minnow?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Tweddle's minnow is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Tweddle's minnow? Get the app