How do minnows in Florida survive cold winters when

[Baitball Blogger]

guppies start keeling over when temps hit 60 degrees?

I realize guppies are tropical, but I don't understand why breeders haven't worked on a colorful fresh water minnow that can withstand 40 degree weather.

[Donkees]

1. minnow temp-range:

"Minnows are hardy fish that can tolerate temperatures from below freezing to above 90 degrees Fahrenheit"

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Nice.

[Skittles]

3. that is pretty freaking hardy

yes INDEED

[Donkees]

4. "range of habitats" explains the wide temperature range

"The habits of the different minnows vary greatly. Some are found in large aggregations, and others typically are found alone or associated with only a few other individuals. Some types of minnows occur only in cold water; others are widely distributed in both cold and warmwater environments. Some, like the fallfish, prefer large streams, rivers, and lakes; others, like the pearl dace, usually live in small headwater tributaries.

The abundance of minnows may be attributed to three factors: they can occupy a great variety of habitats, most species require a relatively short period of time to reach breeding age, and a large number of minnows can occupy a small space and find sufficient food and shelter because of their small size.

http://www2.dnr.cornell.edu/cek7/nyfish/Cyprinidae/cyprinidae.html

[hobbit709]

5. There's a reason guppies are considered Tropical fish.