Description
Lives in still waters with vegetation.
How to identify it
Upturned mouth, golden iris, keel between the pelvic fins and the vent, dorsal set behind the pelvics, red fins.
Appearance
It looks very much like the roach, but the flanks tend to yellow-green or brassy rather than silvery blue, and the eye is golden-yellow without a red spot. The mouth is upturned and the profile of the head looks more pointed. The dorsal fin is set back relative to the pelvic fins, a feature visible even in young fish, and has fewer rays. The dorsal and pectoral fins are greyish with red tinges, while the pelvic, anal and tail fins are bright red. There is also a golden variety bred in ponds.
Habitat and habits
It prefers still or very slow, clear water rich in vegetation: ponds, lakes, oxbows, canals and backwaters of rivers. It likes shallow areas with reeds, water lilies and submerged plants, where it finds food and cover. It moves in the upper layers of the water, taking insects at the surface; when the water is above 18 °C it also feeds heavily on plants. Young fish stay in shoals near the bank, larger ones move between the vegetation and open water. In winter it drops into the deeper areas and moves little.
There's more in the app
This species' bite index, recommended baits and methods, and the rules of the day for every water. Offline too.
Soon on Android and iPhone
