Spotted Galaxias

Scientific Name

Galaxias truttaceus

Other Common Names

Spotted mountain trout, mountain trout, trout minnow, spotted minnow

Size

Usually 120-140mm, up to 200mm

Conservation Status

Rare (Victoria)

Habitat

Generally in still or slow flowing streams at low elevations close to the sea.  Usually found near cover such as fallen timber or rocks in lakes or near the edges in streams.

Distribution

Patchy distribution in coastal streams of the southern mainland especially in Victoria and the southern part of Western Australia as well as Tasmania and the Bass Strait islands

Reproduction

Undescribed, but known to involve a marine juvenile stage.  Able to tolerate a direct transfer from fresh water to the sea.

Diet

Feeds mainly on aquatic and terrestrial insects.  Spotted galaxias feed from the entire water column and the surface, occupying a niche equivalent to that of the introduced brown trout, a species with which it has difficulty competing.

Angling

Not generally considered to be an angling species, however larger specimens will accept fly and can provide good sport on ultra light tackle.

On the table

Not really a food fish due to small size.

In the aquarium

An attractive, easy to keep aquarium fish with few if any vices.  Looks good in a small shoal of six to eight fish in a well planted medium sized aquarium.