New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

💧 Freshwater Endangered 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Temperate

Salt Creek pupfish

Cyprinodon salinus Miller, 1943
Max Length
7.8 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
2.5
Depth
-
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Typical Length
3.7 cm
Depth Zone
-

📖 Overview

Adults inhabit vegetated spring-fed pools and marshes. They occur in Salt Creek, a spring-fed flowing stream of high salinity during most of the year, dries in summer to a series of marshes . Not a seasonal killifish. Is very difficult to maintain in aquarium . Migratory behaviour is undetermined .

Scientific Name
Cyprinodon salinus
Authority
Miller, 1943
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Temperate
IUCN Status
EN
Max Length
7.8 cm
Trophic Level
2.5
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Water Temp
15–30 °C

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Salt Creek pupfish is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Salt Creek pupfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

The Death Valley pupfish mostly feeds on algae and, when available, small invertebrates. In the winter, its diet primarily consists of diatoms, while in the summer it eats spirogyra.

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous
Spawning Season
spring
Spawn Location
Substrate
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic. Temperate; 15°C - 30°C ; 38°N - 37°N North America: Salt Creek, Death Valley in California, USA.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater 🌿 Brackish
Trophic Level
2.5±0.1

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.0138 × L3.14 (TL)
Max TL
7.8cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
15–30°C

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Endangered
Assessment Date
2011

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
10.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
2.5
Omnivore / Planktivore
Climate Zone
Temperate
Described By
Miller, 1943

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Salt Creek pupfish is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for Salt Creek pupfish is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Salt Creek pupfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Salt Creek pupfish ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.