Cold Water and Ponds
Nine-spined Stickleback
Pungitius pungitius
Photo: Piet Spaans · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Temperature4–20 °C
- pH7–8.5
- Minimum tank60 l
- Adult size6 cm
- Difficulty★★★☆☆
- TemperamentSemi-aggressive
- WaterFresh
Full profile
- Family
- Gasterosteidae
- Origin
- Northern Europe, Asia and North America
- Size
- 6 cm
- Temperature
- 4 – 20°C
- pH
- 7.0 – 8.5
- GH
- 6 – 20 °dGH
- Difficulty
- ★★★☆☆
- Water type
- freshwater, temperate
- Swimming level
- medium
- Behavior
- semi-aggressive (in captivity)
- Minimum number of individuals
- 1 male and 2 females
- Minimum aquarium size
- 60 L
- Diet
- carnivore (live food)
- Reproduction
- oviparous; the male builds a nest among plants
Notes: Related to the spiny fish, with nine small spines along its back. Males turn black during the breeding season.
