Marine Minnow/Topminnow?

[AquatiCreations]

Last weekend on a fishing venture,In the shallow marshy areas(no deeper than 15") of Tampa Bay I stumbled upon what appeared to be minnows of some type.they exhibited prominent vertical bars down the length of the entire body,and a mouth that appears to be designed for a top feeding/mid ranged species.I took three of these minnows home with me and introduced them into my aquarium.(after quarantine of course) They settled in promptly and I came back to feed and put the moonlights on for the night. These guys took marine pellets right off the bat!Also upon closer observation I watch them as they nibble away at the brown algae,I couldn't have been more pleased,one week later I still have all three minnows with no compatibility issues.Based on the description above can anyone Identify this minnow for me?

Thanks-AC

 

[GregAW]

A photo is always a better solution to help identify something rather than a description.

 

[AquatiCreations]

Yes,I'm aware and i will try to get one as soon as the fish stop zipping around the tank,(did a little bit of cleaning).Hopefully they will settle down for a second.

 

[GregAW]

At least they are lively.

 

[AquatiCreations]

I need one of those traffic cameras that take pictures at 246mph but this is the best i could do with the sports function on mine.

 

[GregAW]

You did good. That is a cool looking fish. Looks like some kind of mosquito larva eater.

 

[Notophthalmus]

It's definitely a topminnow (Fundulus species); I don't know the coastal species, so I can't help you there. Here's a key to FL Gulf Coast species: http://academic.regis.edu/mghedott/imagePDF/FUNDULIDAE-Wiley-Ghedotti.pdf

 

[Ace25]

Looks a little similiar to my zebra dartfish doesn't it? Different coloring but looks like they could be cousins.

 

[AquatiCreations]

Indeed it does Ace,I'm unfamiliar with the dartfish species behavioral patterns though, so it would be difficult to say. As mentioned above these fish can move very quickly and the shape of the body(long and slender) Looks as if it were made to move quickly.The vertical bars are very pretty,but its hard to catch them when they are whizzing around the tank.The prominant noticeable difference in the two species is the dorsal fins.Where the dartfish has a long ray,these have just a short dorsal set farther back on the body.