The smallest fish. The smallest fish in the world
October 24, 2013
Lake goby mystichtis
Many people pay attention only to large fish, since, for example, a shark can swallow a person. However, large sizes do not always portend a threat, since even the smallest fish can bring much more dangerous problems.
Of course, swimming in the sea is impossible to see such small creatures, but you need to know about them. In the Philippines (Luzon Island), not far from the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, one of the smallest fish settled - the mysticthis goby. In addition, lagoons, estuaries, estuaries and mangroves are considered suitable places. The length of this tiny male fish is only 1-1.5 centimeters, and the adult female reaches up to 14 centimeters. They are so transparent that they are practically invisible in the water, so there is little information about them due to the difficulties of catching. They never swim alone, mostly their habitual movements are based on grouping in large flocks. Basically, the process of catching occurs when the spawning begins in the fish. At this time, namely monthly on the fourth day after the full moon, it is quite easy to catch them in large numbers. This is especially important for the economic sphere of activity of the north-western provinces of these islands. Mystikhtis is not dangerous to humans, besides, locals eat it. They catch it in dozens and cook it according to special recipes. Since the goby is the smallest vertebrate animal in the world, dishes usually consist of a dozen fish. In addition to its usual habitat, mysticthis can be found in European waters. As for the Black and Azov Seas, Berg's gobies are located here. The length of such a small fish reaches approximately three centimeters. This goby is considered the smallest species of the vertebrate class of animals in Russia.
Baikal goby
In fresher sea waters, a large number of fish are found, the length of which barely reaches 5-10 centimeters. For example, the common Baikal goby, the stone broadloob, boasts a size of about 8 centimeters, and only occasionally some individuals can grow up to 14 centimeters. Basically, stone caves are the usual habitat of this fish. Here for her the most comfortable conditions for feeding and reproduction.
Aral nine-spined stickleback
The smallest fish also take sticklebacks into their ranks. A large number of this species are found in a lake, river or brackish coastal areas of the sea. The full name of this fish is the Aral nine-spined stickleback, the length of which barely reaches 5-6 centimeters. This species is so common in water bodies that it may well become a commercial fish. In addition to selling fresh goods, fish are caught in Finland and other Baltic countries, and then fat is extracted during processing. This product is sold separately and is used in technical fields of activity, as well as for the production of flour for livestock and poultry feed.
Dwarf gobies
The dwarf gobies Paedocypris Progenetica (dwarf pandaka) are considered the smallest fish of all representatives of this class. The usual habitat is the Indo-Pacific region. Studies carried out in the late 70s of the 20th century showed that the length of this male fish is approximately 8.9 mm. The females were 0.1 mm longer. This type of fish is mainly found in peat swamps in Sumatra and Indonesia. The choice for this area is based on the presence of high acidity, about 100 times higher than the normal level of rainwater. Previously, there was information that such acidity cannot provide adequate conditions for life and reproduction. However, in the process of studying, interesting information was discovered. This level of acidity can guarantee full life for many species of animals and plants. Moreover, they are so unique that they attract particular attention. The small size of the fish is very helpful for their survival. For example, due to this, they require little food to exist. The most useful and necessary food is plankton, which occurs at the bottom of water bodies. The pygmy pandaka has shrunk in length due to several factors. So, I had to deprive the brain of some of the bone protection. Females, on the other hand, have much fewer eggs than other types of fish. However, the outlook for survival of these dwarfs is not very good, since as a result of vigorous human activity, swamps are drained, and their habitual habitat is destroyed. Because of such actions, the pygmy pandaka is on the verge of extinction.
In addition to the fish already mentioned, some of the smallest specimens of this class include some species of herring, minnows, bleaks, verkhovki, gudgeons, and pinches.
An interesting fact is that the pinch was named due to the presence of sharp spines that are located near the eyes. Thanks to them, the fish can pinch quite painfully.
Many people mistakenly believe that tiny fish species were bred specifically for keeping in aquariums. In fact, the smallest fish in the world in large numbers inhabit the wild reservoirs of the planet and even serve as an object of fishing for the aborigines. Recent studies by ichthyologists have shown that man is still too poorly aware of the whole variety of underwater creatures that live with him on Earth.
The smallest fish in the world in large numbers inhabit the wild reservoirs of the planet Tiny freshwater fish
One of the smallest fish that lives in freshwater reservoirs and is distinguished not only by its minimum length, but also by an insignificant body weight, is the mysticthis goby, which inhabits the wild reservoirs of the Philippines. Despite the fact that the length of this fish does not exceed 13 millimeters, it is actively used by local residents for food. The natives bake flat cakes from these gobies, which are subsequently dried and can be stored for a very long time.
In the reservoirs of Russia there is also a fish that claims to be one of the smallest fish on Earth. We are talking about a nine-spined stickleback, the maximum length of which is five centimeters. This species has a fairly large population in the water bodies of the Baltic States and Finland. Stickleback is an object of fishing and is used for the manufacture of several types of products:
- dry animal feed;
- fish oil;
- for the preparation of medicines.
In addition, stickleback serves as the basis of food for more valuable commercial fish species. Some amateur anglers catch stickleback with a line and prepare minced fish from it for cutlets. Recently, due to large-scale commercial fishing, the population of this species has significantly decreased.
Babies living in sea waters
The smallest fish in the world living in salt water is the dwarf goby. This species is found in the border zone of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The body length of a female goby reaches 9 millimeters. Unlike most other species, the male pygmy goby is slightly smaller than the female.
The dwarf goby is the smallest saltwater fish in the world Relatively recently, ichthyologists discovered the presence of this species in the waters surrounding the Shetland Islands, which was a great discovery for scientists. However, this subspecies turned out to be much larger than its Indo-Pacific counterpart. The largest of the studied individuals had a length equal to 24 millimeters. This small fish is called Gillette's goby and belongs to the smallest fish in Europe. The Gillette goby is still quite poorly understood, because:
- has a very small size;
- has excellent mimicry abilities;
- found in places with a lot of underwater shelters.
These factors do not make it possible to thoroughly study the behavior of the goby in natural conditions. So far, it is only known for certain that these creatures live exclusively in those places of the reservoir, where the bottom is abundantly covered with shell rock.
Speaking of miniature marine fish, one cannot ignore the goby species that lives near the island of Luzon. The name of this species, which does not exceed 13 millimeters in length, is Sinarapan. This fish is of great commercial importance for the islanders., therefore, its numbers are rapidly declining.
The smallest fish in Russian sea waters is the Caspian goby Berga, which has a length of about 2 centimeters and lives in the Caspian Sea. This species, like the vast majority of other gobies, leads a benthic lifestyle. Individuals can be found not only in the sea, but also in the lower reaches of the rivers flowing into the Caspian:
- in the Volga;
- in the Terek;
- in Kure;
- in the Urals.
The ocean and sea depths have not yet been fully explored by man and can store a lot of secrets and mysteries, so the question of which fish is the smallest in the world still remains open.
Paedocypris progenetica - the smallest fish in the world The smallest fish on the planet
In the waters of the peat bogs of Sumatra, scientists recently discovered the smallest fish on earth, which was named Paedocypris progenetica. A little later, the same species was found on the island of Borneo. Paedocypris progenetica belongs to one of the distant relatives of the common carp. This slender transparent creature, at puberty, is no larger than an ordinary mosquito. The body of an adult fish reaches a length of 7.9 millimeters, making Paedocypris progenetica one of the smallest invertebrates on the planet.
The skull of Paedocypris progenetica is not fully formed, which makes the fish brain very vulnerable. The main feature of these fish is the presence of a hard lining in the pelvic girdle in males. Such an overlay allows the male to grip more reliably with the females during the mating period.
The swamps in which this species lives have a unique landscape. Trees growing straight out of the water take root in the soft, peaty soil of the swamp. The depth in some places can reach a 5-meter mark, which is completely unusual for other swamps, where the maximum depths do not exceed one and a half meters. However, the main distinguishing feature is the value of the water acidity level, which can reach 3.
To date Paedocypris progenetica - the smallest fish known to man. The main threat to the existence of this species is the changing climatic conditions on the planet. Since these fish are very poorly protected from external influences, even a slight change in water temperature can lead to their complete disappearance.
The smallest fish in the world is the pygmy pandaki. They are not only the smallest freshwater fish on the planet, they are also the world's smallest vertebrate. Their habitual habitat is the Indo-Pacific region. Often, these dwarf fish are found in the peat bogs of Indonesia and Sumatra.
Miniature fish can be seen not only in small aquariums, they live in fresh water, and also live in salty sea water. Most surprisingly, many of them are commercial.
The smallest river fish
Small and light freshwater fish include the goby mystictis, which is found in the lakes and rivers of the Philippines. This is a commercial fish. The length of the fish is about twelve and a half millimeters. Fish live in small schools. The local population prefers to eat these gobies, making delicious dried cakes from them.
Mistikhtis - small freshwater fish
The bobbin fish is found in Russian rivers and lakes. Its size is also small. So, the length of the Aral nine-spined bobbin is only five centimeters. There is so much of it in reservoirs that it may well be commercial. This bobbin subspecies is caught in the Baltics and Finland. The bobbin processing field produces fat, which is used for technical needs. Bone meal is also obtained for poultry and livestock feed.
The smallest sea fish
Of all marine fish, the dwarf goby has the shortest body. Its habitat is the Indo-Pacific region. It is known that the body length of females is only nine millimeters, and males are one tenth of a millimeter less.
Dwarf goby - the fish with the shortest body
The dwarf goby was also discovered quite by accident in the region of the Shetland Islands, which was a real discovery. However, it was not so small - the maximum length was twenty-four millimeters. The name of the fish is Gillette's goby. This goby is considered the smallest sea fish in Europe. Due to their small size and mysterious color, thanks to which they easily hide among fragments of shells, it is extremely difficult to thoroughly investigate this species. To date, it is only known for sure that their habitat is a rough seabed.
It is impossible not to mention one more species of goby that lives in the seas and is the smallest marine commercial fish - this is the synarapan. These fish are found on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The length of males does not exceed thirteen millimeters. Unfortunately, this species of goby is also on the verge of extinction.
Sinarapan is the smallest commercial fish
In Russia, the smallest fish is Berga's Caspian goby. It belongs to the smallest subspecies of gobies. Its habitat is the bottom layers of the Caspian Sea. The length of such a fish usually does not exceed two centimeters. Sometimes it can be found in the lower reaches of rivers flowing into the Caspian.
Small aquarium fish
Usually, small aquarium fish live in small aquariums set up in homes, shops or offices.
Small aquarium for small fish
Here are several types of miniature aquarium fish. Rasbora Brigitte - this fish, even in wildlife, does not exceed two or three centimeters. Rasbora Mera and Rasbora Spotted are just as small. The smallest of them is Rasbora Kroshka, the length of which is no more than one and a half centimeters. No more than two centimeters - the size of the Rasbora Firefly fish.
In miniature aquariums, the dwarf Tetradon is often seen. The male grows up to two and a half centimeters. Females are slightly larger. Small pygmy catfish live in flocks in aquariums. The length of these fish is about two and a half centimeters. Another small schooling fish is Microsbora Galaxy. Its size is two and a half centimeters.
Microsbora Galaxy - aquarium fish only 2.5 mm in size
The nano-aquarium was created by Anatoly Konenko, a resident of the city of Omsk. Its volume is only two teaspoons of water. It is active, and fish live in it. Its inhabitants are zebrafish fry, which are only four millimeters long.
The smallest fish in the world
The smallest representative of the class of mystichtis gobies is the pygmy pandaka. The place of his discovery is the swamp of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Delicacy from the smallest fish in the world
The weight of this "baby" is about four to five grams, and its length is about seven to nine millimeters. In the water, the fish are barely visible, not only because of their size, but also because they are almost transparent and colorless. Pandaks are not only the smallest freshwater fish on the planet, they are also the world's smallest vertebrate.
Their habitual habitat is the Indo-Pacific region. Often, these dwarf fish are found in the peat bogs of Indonesia and Sumatra. The choice of the area is not accidental, the reason is high acidity, which exceeds the acidity of rainwater by a factor of one hundred. In the seventies of the last century, studies of the pandaka were carried out, which led to interesting discoveries.
The smallest fish is found here
Due to their small size, the fish require little food. They feed on plankton lying at the bottom of reservoirs. The small length of the fish and the small weight are justified by the fact that its brain is devoid of some of the bone protection, the females, in comparison with other fish, have much fewer eggs. There are so few eggs that the male is able to fertilize each of them individually.
Locals, despite such a small size of fish, eat them fried with many spices. The slave is also of interest to aquarists.
Mystichtis are not only eaten, but bred in aquariums
Pandaki has long been on the brink of extinction. The reason is in human activity, which continues to drain the swamps and thus destroys the habitual and natural habitats of these small fish.
Small fish living in the seas and oceans are not so rare. Some of their species can be seen in the home aquariums of exotic lovers. Believe it or not, most of them are commercial, and are actively caught by humans. These tiny creatures live in both salt and fresh water.
The smallest representative of freshwater fish is mystichtis, which belongs to the goby family. The homeland of this dwarf fish is the Philippines. The goby lives in freshwater rivers. Its body length does not exceed twelve millimeters. The goby is kept in small flocks, consisting of several hundred individuals. Mystichtis is very popular among the local population. The fish is dried and used to prepare various dishes that are very popular with tourists.
In Russian freshwater rivers, you can find another representative of dwarf fish of commercial importance. This stickleback- a miniature fish, no more than five centimeters long. From it, technical fat is obtained, as well as fish meal rich in vitamins, which is used in the manufacture of feed for birds and animals.
Dwarf fish can also be found in the sea. These include, for example, dwarf goby, which is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The length of the fish is no more than nine millimeters. She has an original color, thanks to which she is completely invisible on the seabed covered with shells. Among them, the goby is hiding. For ichthyologists, it remains a mystery to this day. In addition, this dwarf fish lives at a rather great depth, which greatly complicates its study.
The smallest marine fish of commercial importance is sinarapan... She lives in the coastal waters of the Philippine island of Luzon. The length of her body is no more than thirteen millimeters. Today, the sinarapan population is at a critical level, so fishing is prohibited.
A dwarf fish also lives in the Caspian Sea. This Caspian goby... Its body length is no more than two centimeters. The goby leads a near-bottom way of life, but sometimes it enters the lower reaches of freshwater rivers.
Scientists agree that the smallest fish in the world is pygmy goby... He was found in a swamp, which is located on the island of Sumatra. This crumb weighs four grams, and its body length is only seven millimeters. The pandaka's body is absolutely transparent, so it is invisible in water. The fact that the fish prefers the swamp is easily explained. In such reservoirs, the water has increased acidity, which is important for its normal existence. The size of the fish is small, it consumes little food. This is mainly bottom plankton. Due to such a small size, the female can lay only a few eggs, each of which is fertilized by the male individually. Locals catch pandaks and eat them.
And yet, the smallest fish are kept by aquarists. They are tiny, colorful, with an original body shape. There are a lot of species of aquarium dwarf fish. The most popular are: Rasbora Brigitte, Rasbora Mera, Rasbora Spotted, Rasbora Crumb. The fish are tiny. For example, the body length of the same Crumb is no more than 15 millimeters. Rasbora Firefly grows no more than 20 millimeters.
Also in home aquariums, you can see the Tetradon, the length of which is no more than 25 millimeters. There are quite a few small aquarium fish. These are the same dwarf catfish, zebrafish, pandaks, etc.
Small aquarium fish or nano fish are no less beautiful creatures than their larger counterparts, and these are not only fish for small aquariums, sometimes they are not. But below you will find the names and photos of the smallest aquarium fish, the most famous, commercially available and popular. These are far from all representatives of such a group; this is only a small sample.
First, let's figure out what small aquarium fish are. Even in the last century, small fish were considered to be 4-7 cm in length. However, time has made its own adjustments, and very small, the so-called nano aquariums, gained particular popularity. Nowadays, a nano aquarium is usually referred to as an aquarium with a volume of 5 to 50 liters. Of course, it is difficult to keep fish in such volumes, especially a group of fish.
On the other hand, natural aquariums are now very popular, with many living plants, bright and green. In such a landscape, any, the palest fish, will look great. Professionals say that regular silver fish will look even more attractive. If earlier the most common fish for a small aquarium were guppies and neon blue, now you can find much smaller fish on sale. We will focus our attention on them.
This small aquarium fish broke into the world of aquaristics only in 2006, and immediately captivated professionals and amateurs. In just 10 years, it has become incredibly popular due to its small size and stunning beauty. The scientific name of these fish is translated as "heavenly fish decorated with pearls." They are only 2 cm in size! It is an ideal candidate for a nano aquarium.
Although they are not schooling fish, it is better to keep them in a group, and better in a species aquarium. For a micro-assembly galaxy group, an aquarium with a volume of 40 liters is suitable. The parameters of the water do not really matter, the water only needs to be clean.
Of course, representatives of this species are one of the smallest and most hardy aquarium fish. Males are usually no more than 3.5 cm in length, while females can grow up to 6 cm. The variety of guppy varieties is sometimes simply amazing, and you can always choose to your taste. Guppies endler, for example, are very popular and are always available for sale.
It is better to keep only males in a small aquarium, since the population will constantly increase with females. You can house 3 males in an aquarium with a volume of 20 liters. For males and females, it is better to take a larger container - 30-50 liters.
Small aquarium fish are not very popular, but lately, thanks in large part to the Internet, dwarf tetradons are in great demand. The fact is that they have amazingly interesting behavior, and it is a pleasure to watch the tetradons. Their maximum size is only 2.5 cm and they are great for keeping in a nano aquarium. However, pygmy tetradons can exhibit territorial and highly aggressive behavior.
A small, bright, beautiful fish, no more than 2 cm long. Since this is a tetra, you need to keep the fish in a flock, from 6 individuals or more. For a small group, an aquarium of 30-40 liters is sufficient. It is better to choose a panoramic aquarium, elongated in length, and not a cube. Amanda tetras are ideal peaceful fish for a natural aquarium and are easy to keep, just keep the water clean.
It is also advisable to complement nano aquariums with bottom dwellers, which will help clear the bottom of food debris and create movement in the lower part of the aquarium. Dwarf corridors are ideal for this, because the largest size they can grow to is 2-3 cm. These are the smallest known aquarium catfish. Keep in mind, however, that these species love oxygenated water, good currents and plenty of room to swim, so a larger aquarium is recommended.
The name of these babies speaks for itself - their size is no more than 2 cm. The micro-collection of erythromicrons is almost as popular as the micro-collection of the galaxy, and almost as attractive. It is better to keep this species in a flock; for 15-20 fish, an aquarium with a volume of 35-60 liters is enough. Keeping fish in a group and in a large aquarium is recommended due to the belligerent dominant behavior of the males. Starting these fish is not recommended for beginners, since the water in the aquarium with them must be crystal clear.
This species has long been known in the aquarium hobby and is often used in natural panoramic aquariums. Espeys grow up to 3 cm and it is better to keep them in a group of 7 individuals. For a group, an aquarium of 35-75 liters is suitable.
Very beautiful yellowish fish with dark horizontal stripes, 2.5 - 3.5 cm. Externally they resemble zebrafish rerio. Little known, not very popular species. But for a group of 10 fish, an aquarium of 30-40 liters is enough. Nannostomuses adore driftwood and living plants.
Outwardly, not very bright, but quite attractive viviparous aquarium fish, appeared on sale quite recently. The maximum size is 2.5 cm and 10 liters is enough for a pair of fish. For 7-8 fish, a 30-40 liter aquarium is ideal. Hardy enough, undemanding fish.
Babies are 2 - 2.5 cm long with an unusual body shape, reminiscent of a tree leaf. Like all such fish live in the upper part of the aquarium, closer to the surface of the water, so they need to be provided with a sufficiently long aquarium, at least 50 cm in length and 30 cm in width.
This is another 2 cm long tetra-baby, quite rare, it will be difficult to acquire it. The amazingly slender silvery body looks great against the background of driftwood and plants. They contain a group of 6-10 fish, for a group it is recommended to take an aquarium of 45 liters or more.
This dwarf viviparous fish is gaining popularity and becoming more available for sale, and also quite inexpensive. Males 2 cm, females 3 cm. The minimum aquarium necessary for the life of these fish is 12 liters. Formosa is not demanding on water parameters, it can live even in slightly salted water.
Surprisingly beautiful, bright fish only 1.5 - 2 cm long. In spite of its small size, however, the micro-assemblies need enough space for swimming and for the territories of spawning pairs with aggressive males. Better to use an aquarium 45 cm long and 30 cm wide, approximately 40 liters in volume. The dwelling for these fish is arranged as for the fish of the Amazon basin, with dense growing and floating vegetation.
The largest officially recorded size of this fish is 16.7 mm. This is probably the smallest aquarium fish; outwardly, Danionella looks more like a fry. Despite the small size, a 40-50 liter aquarium is recommended for keeping a group of fish (ideally 15-20). The fish got a strange name because of two huge "fangs" - bone growths located on the upper jaw (in males). However, you will hardly find this fish on sale - it is still a very rare species.