Fish, mudminnow family
European mudminnow
- Maximum length
- 17cm
- Best water temperature
- 14–21 °C
- Water today (4.6 °C)
- Out of range
- Fishing districts near where it occurs
- 1
About the species European mudminnow
How to recognise it
A small dark fish (up to about 13 cm) with a rounded tail fin and a single long dorsal fin set far back. The body is brown to almost black.
Where it lives
Overgrown wetlands, backwaters and shallow still waters in the lowlands with a muddy bottom. It tolerates water with very little oxygen because it can also breathe atmospheric air.
What it feeds on
Small invertebrates, insect larvae and small crustaceans.
Spawning
In spring in shallows among aquatic plants.
A very rare species, threatened by the loss of wetlands.
Classification under the decree
Decree of the Ministry of the Environment of the SR no. 381/2018 Coll. on fisheries.
Classification
A native species of fish or lamprey (Section 13, paragraph 1 of the decree).
Closed season, minimum size and daily limit
What the Fisheries Act says about European mudminnow. For guidance only; check it in the fishing regulations of the district.
Species protected all year
Section 10, paragraph 1, point i of the decreefishing prohibited
this species may not be fishedoutside this period
You must not keep a fish of this species. If you happen to catch one, return it to the water as gently as possible.
Summary of Act no. 216/2018 Coll. and Decree no. 381/2018 Coll. (as of 6 Nov 2026). It may be out of date or contain an error, and exceptions apply on some waters. The permit and the fishing regulations of the district are binding. The fishing law, rule by rule.
Water temperature and requirements
At what temperature the species is active and how well today's water suits it.
Out of rangeTypical water on the Slovakia is 4.6 °C today. That is outside the range the species tolerates (5 to 24 °C). Fish are less active or move to water with a more suitable temperature.
- tolerates 5 to 24 °C
- best 14 to 21 °C
- typical water today 4.6 °C
- Length
- up to 17 cm
- Oxygen
- Tolerates low oxygen
Sizes and the tolerated temperature range come from the FishBase database. We estimated the best temperature from that range, so it is only indicative. In a particular water, fish behave according to the weather, air pressure, oxygen and food.
Where it was recorded
Fishing districts around which a record of this species exists (GBIF).
1 fishing district in total. Show on map
Catches of European mudminnow
Approved catches by anglers on this portal.
Nobody has logged a catch of this species yet. Be the first; once approved it will appear here and on the leaderboard.
Similar species
Photo credits
- European mudminnow: Photo: Vad víz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Weatherfish: Photo: Harka, Akos, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Minimum sizes, protection periods and permitted fishing methods are set by the fishing regulations and the conditions of the specific fishing district. Check them before you fish.