Please can you ID this UK river fish?

wrote in
ups.com:

I was wondering if anyone knew exactly what type of fish these are? I
suspect that they may well grow too big for this tank, and will
probably not be suitable to keep for too long, but I would like to
check before I break the news to the children!!
http://www.kidsinaction.org.uk/fish.jpg

I think that they are minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus), and unlike most Eurasian
wild fish, they are actually suitable for normal home aquariums. Small
(max. 10 cm / 4"), rather hardy, and should learn to eat normal flakes.

If you are still going to release them please do that rather quicky. Winter
is arriving and waters are getting colder. If the fish are now indoors in
warm water, it will be quite a shock for them to get back in their chilly
home water. Releasing them next summer will be ok.

Liisa

Liisa Sarakontu wrote:
I think that they are minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus),

Thanks for the ID. My wife suggested minnows, but I had in my mind that
they looked a little different. I did a quick search for them on
Google, and it does look like they are Phoxinus phoxinus. The only
thing is that many of the pics I saw showed red under the lower fins,
which ours don't have. Could this be something that will develop as
they grow, or is it an indication of another variation?

and unlike most Eurasian
wild fish, they are actually suitable for normal home aquariums. Small
(max. 10 cm / 4"), rather hardy, and should learn to eat normal flakes.

Oh it didn't take them long to get used to flake!! Within two days they
were coming to the surface for it. Now there's a food fight every time
I feed them!!

Glad to know they are suitable for the home. They make a pleasant
sight.

If you are still going to release them please do that rather quicky. Winter
is arriving and waters are getting colder. If the fish are now indoors in
warm water, it will be quite a shock for them to get back in their chilly
home water. Releasing them next summer will be ok.

I was only going to release them if they were going to grow too big.
Now that I know they will be fine in a home tank, I think we will try
and raise them. I was wondering about dropping a couple of ice cubes in
the water each day to try and keep it cool. It did occur to me that
being outdoor fish, they might find an indoor tank too warm. Do you
think I need to cool it, or will room temperature be OK?

They are in the kitchen, right near a sink, so regular water changes
are very easy. I have an air stone in there on a timer, so the water is
oxegenated for about six hours every night, and another hour or so
during the day. Hopefully that will keep them happy.

Thanks for the reply. Any further comments welcome.

wrote in
oups.com:

Google, and it does look like they are Phoxinus phoxinus. The only
thing is that many of the pics I saw showed red under the lower fins,
which ours don't have.

Adult males have red belliew during breeding time. Your fish are
youngsters, and it is not time to breed now.

and raise them. I was wondering about dropping a couple of ice cubes in
the water each day to try and keep it cool.

Nope, that isn't enough. If your home is very warm, get a little fan (those
made for cooling computers are perfect), and place it so that it will keep
surface moving. It will turn the temp down a couple of degrees. Or create a
system where cold water drips to the tank all the time and extra water runs
away.

They are in the kitchen, right near a sink, so regular water changes
are very easy. I have an air stone in there on a timer, so the water is
oxegenated for about six hours every night, and another hour or so
during the day. Hopefully that will keep them happy.

Just an airstone, and no filter or anything else to make the water move?
Not good. Minnows are hardy, but as cold water fish they do need oxygen.
Get a strong filter if you are going to keep them. I hope that your tank is
big enough, as they will grow during winter if kept properly. 100 liters
might be ok for that school.

Liisa

Liisa Sarakontu wrote:
Google, and it does look like they are Phoxinus phoxinus. The only
thing is that many of the pics I saw showed red under the lower fins,
which ours don't have.

Adult males have red belliew during breeding time. Your fish are
youngsters, and it is not time to breed now.

Ah, that explains it, thanks.

and raise them. I was wondering about dropping a couple of ice cubes in
the water each day to try and keep it cool.

Nope, that isn't enough. If your home is very warm, get a little fan (those
made for cooling computers are perfect), and place it so that it will keep
surface moving. It will turn the temp down a couple of degrees. Or create a
system where cold water drips to the tank all the time and extra water runs
away.

OK, I'll look into that. I'm more used to keeping tropical fish, so the
idea of cooling a tank is quite a novelty to me!

They are in the kitchen, right near a sink, so regular water changes
are very easy. I have an air stone in there on a timer, so the water is
oxegenated for about six hours every night, and another hour or so
during the day. Hopefully that will keep them happy.

Just an airstone, and no filter or anything else to make the water move?

Not at the moment, but it looks like I'll need something.

Not good. Minnows are hardy, but as cold water fish they do need oxygen.
Get a strong filter if you are going to keep them.

OK, I guessed that was coming next ;-) I had the air pump and stone
around from a previous tank, so I used that as an immediate solution,
but I guess you're right, a filter is going to be needed pretty soon.

I hope that your tank is
big enough, as they will grow during winter if kept properly. 100 liters
might be ok for that school.

It's definitely not big enough for when they grow, but is probably OK
for now. I have kept fish for enough years to know about giving them
enough space, and will keep a careful eye on their growth.

Thanks again for the reply.