We present a list of the most common freshwater (river) fish. Names with photos and descriptions for each river fish: its appearance, taste qualities fish, habitats, fishing methods, time and method of spawning.

Pike perch, like perch, prefers only clean water, saturated with oxygen and conducive to the normal functioning of the fish. This is pure fish without any ingredients. The growth of pike perch can be up to 35 cm. Weight Limit can reach up to 20 kg. Pike perch meat is light, without excess fat and very tasty and pleasant. It contains quite a lot of minerals, such as phosphorus, chlorine, chlorine, sulfur, potassium, fluorine, cobalt, iodine, and also a lot of vitamin P. Judging by the composition, pike perch meat is very healthy.

Bersch, like pike perch, is considered a relative of perch. It can grow up to 45 cm in length, weighing 1.4 kg. It is found in rivers that flow into the Black and Caspian Seas. Its diet includes small fish, like a gudgeon. The meat is almost the same as that of pike perch, although a little softer.

Perch prefers reservoirs with clean water. These can be rivers, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, etc. Perch is the most common predator, but you will never find it where the water is cloudy and dirty. To catch perch, they use rather thin gear. Catching it is very interesting and entertaining.

The ruff has a peculiar appearance with the presence of very spiny fins, which protects it from predators. The ruff also loves clean water, but depending on its habitat it can change its color. It grows no more than 18 cm in length and gains weight up to 400 grams. Its length and weight directly depend on the food supply in the pond. Its habitat extends to almost all European countries. It is found in rivers, lakes, ponds and even seas. Spawning takes place over 2 days or more. The ruff always prefers to be at depth, as it does not like sunlight.

This fish is from the perch family, but few people know it, since it is not found in this area. It is distinguished by an elongated fusiform body and the presence of a head with a protruding snout. The fish is not large, no more than one foot long. It is found mainly in the Danube River and its adjacent tributaries. Its diet includes various worms, mollusks and small fish. The chop fish spawns in April with bright yellow eggs.

This is a freshwater fish that is found in almost all bodies of water. globe, but only in those that have clean, oxygenated water. When the oxygen concentration in the water decreases, the pike dies. Pike grows up to one and a half meters in length, weighing 3.5 kg. The body and head of the pike are characterized by an elongated shape. It’s not for nothing that it’s called an underwater torpedo. Pike spawning occurs when the water warms up from 3 to 6 degrees. It is a predatory fish and feeds on other species of fish such as roach, etc. Pike meat is considered dietary because it contains very little fat. In addition, pike meat contains a lot of protein, which is easily absorbed by the human body. Pike can live up to 25 years. Its meat can be stewed, fried, boiled, baked, stuffed, etc.

This fish lives in ponds, lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Its color is largely determined by the composition of the water that is available in a given reservoir. By appearance very similar to rudd. The roach's diet includes various algae, larvae of various insects, as well as fish fry.

With the arrival of winter, the roach goes to wintering pits. It spawns later than pike, around the end of spring. Before spawning begins, it becomes covered with large pimples. The caviar of this fish is quite small, transparent, with a green tint.

Bream is an inconspicuous fish, but its meat is characterized by excellent taste. It can be found where there is calm water or a weak current. Bream lives no more than 20 years, but grows very slowly. For example, a 10-year-old specimen can gain weight no more than 3 or 4 kilograms.

Bream has a dark silvery tint. The average life expectancy is 7 to 8 years. During this period, it grows up to 41 cm in length and has an average weight of about 800 g. Bream spawns in the spring.

This is a sedentary fish species with a bluish-gray color. The silver bream lives for about 15 years and grows to a length of up to 35 cm, with a weight of 1.2 kg. Silver bream, like bream, grows quite slowly. Do they prefer bodies of water with standing water or not? fast current. In spring and autumn, the silver bream gathers in numerous flocks (dense flocks), hence its name. The silver bream feeds on small insects and their larvae, as well as mollusks. Spawning occurs at the end of spring or beginning of summer, when the water temperature rises to +15ºС-+17ºС. The spawning period lasts from 1 to 1.5 months. Silver bream meat is considered not tasty, especially since it contains a lot of bones.

This fish has a dark yellow-golden hue. It can live up to 30 years, but already at 7-8 years its growth stops. During this time, the carp manages to grow up to 1 meter in length and gain a weight of 3 kg. Carp is considered a freshwater fish, but it is also found in the Caspian Sea. Its diet includes young shoots of reeds, as well as eggs of spawned fish. With the arrival of autumn, its diet expands and begins to include various insects and invertebrates.

This fish belongs to the carp family and can live for about a hundred years. May eat undercooked potatoes, bread crumbs or cake. A distinctive feature of cyprinids is the presence of a mustache. Carp is considered a voracious and insatiable fish. Carp lives in rivers, ponds, lakes, and reservoirs where there is a muddy bottom. Carp likes to pass pliable silt through its mouth, in search of various bugs and worms.

Carp spawns only when the water begins to warm up to a temperature of +18ºС-+20ºС. Can gain weight up to 9 kg. In China it is a food fish, and in Japan it is a decorative food.

Very strong fish. Many experienced fishermen fish for it, using powerful and reliable gear.

Crucian carp is the most common fish. It is found in almost all bodies of water, regardless of the quality of the water and the concentration of oxygen in it. Crucian carp is able to live in reservoirs where other fish will immediately die. It belongs to the carp family, and in appearance it is similar to carp, but does not have a mustache. In winter, if there is very little oxygen in the water, crucian carp hibernate and remain in this state until spring. Crucian carp spawns at a temperature of about 14 degrees.

Tench prefers ponds with dense vegetation and covered with thick duckweed. Tench can be caught well from August, before the onset of real cold weather. Tench meat has excellent taste characteristics. It’s not for nothing that tench is called the king’s fish. In addition to the fact that tench can be fried, baked, stewed, it makes an incredible fish soup.

The chub is considered a freshwater fish and is found exclusively in rivers with fast currents. It is a representative of the carp family. It grows up to 80 cm in length and can weigh up to 8 kg. It is considered a semi-fat fish, since its diet consists of fish fry, various insects, and small frogs. It prefers to be under trees and plants hanging over the water, since various living creatures very often fall into the water from them. It spawns at temperatures from +12ºС to +17ºС.

Its habitat includes almost all rivers and reservoirs of European countries. Prefers to stay at depth in the presence of a slow current. In winter it is as active as in summer, as it does not hibernate. It is considered a fairly hardy fish. It can have a length from 35 to 63 cm, with a weight from 2 to 2.8 kg.

Can live up to 20 years. The diet consists of both plant and animal foods. Ide spawning occurs in the spring, at water temperatures from 2 to 13 degrees.

It is also a representative of the family of carp fish species and has a dark bluish-gray color. It grows up to 120 cm in length and can reach a weight of 12 kg. Found in the Black and Caspian Seas. Selects areas with fast currents and avoids stagnant water.

There are saberfish with silver, grayish and yellow colors. It can gain weight up to 2 kg, with a length of up to 60 cm. It can live for about 9 years.

Chekhon grows very quickly and gains weight. Found in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and seas such as the Baltic Sea. At a young age it feeds on zoo- and phytoplankton, and with the arrival of autumn it switches to feeding on insects.

Rudd and roach are easily confused, but rudd has a more attractive appearance. Over the course of 19 years of life, it is able to gain weight of 2.4 kg, with a length of 51 cm. It is found, for the most part, in rivers that flow into the Caspian, Azov, Black and Aral seas.

The basis of the rudd's diet is food of plant and animal origin, but most of all it likes to eat caviar of mollusks. Enough healthy fish with a set of minerals such as phosphorus, chromium, as well as vitamin P, proteins and fats.

The podust has a long body and chooses areas with fast currents. It grows up to 40 cm in length and weighs up to 1.6 kg. The podust lives for about 10 years. It feeds from the bottom of the reservoir, collecting microscopic algae. This fish is distributed throughout Europe. Spawns at a water temperature of 6-8 degrees.

Bleak is a ubiquitous fish, known to almost any person who has fished with a fishing rod in a pond at least once. Bleak belongs to the family of carp fish species. It can grow to small sizes in length (12-15 cm) with a weight of about 100 grams. It is found in rivers flowing into the Black, Baltic and Azov Seas, as well as in large bodies of water with clean, non-stagnant water.

This is a fish, the same as bleak, but slightly smaller in size and weight. With a length of 10 cm, it can weigh only 2 grams. Able to live up to 6 years. It feeds on algae and zooplankton, but grows very slowly.

It also belongs to the family of carp fish species, and it has a spindle-shaped body shape. It grows in length up to 15-22 cm. It is carried out in reservoirs where there is a current and there is clean water. The gudgeon feeds on insect larvae and small invertebrates. It spawns in the spring, like most fish.

This type of fish also belongs to the carp family. Feeds practically on food plant origin. It can grow up to 1 m 20 cm in length and weigh up to 32 kg. Different at a fast pace growth. Grass carp is distributed throughout the world.

The diet of silver carp consists of microscopic particles of plant origin. It is a large representative of the carp family. This is a heat-loving fish. The silver carp has teeth that are capable of grinding vegetation. It is easy to acclimatize. Silver carp are grown artificially.

Due to the fact that it grows quickly, it is of interest for industrial breeding. Can gain up to 8 kg of weight in a short time. It is mostly distributed in Central Asia and in China. Spawns in the spring, loves water areas where there is an intense current.

This is a very large representative of freshwater bodies, capable of growing up to 3 meters in length and weighing up to 400 kg. The catfish is brown in color but has no scales. Inhabits almost all reservoirs of Europe and Russia, where appropriate conditions exist: clean water, the presence of aquatic vegetation and suitable depth.

This is a small representative of the catfish family that prefers small reservoirs (canals) with warm water. In our time, it was brought from America, where there is quite a lot of it and most fishermen fish for it.

Its spawning occurs in conditions when the water temperature reaches +28ºС. Therefore, it can only be found in the southern regions.

This is a fish from the family of river eels and prefers freshwater bodies of water. This is a snake-like predator that is found in the Baltic, Black, Azov and Barents seas. Prefers to be in areas with a clay bottom. Its diet consists of small animals, crayfish, worms, larvae, snails, etc. Capable of growing up to 47 cm in length and gaining weight up to 8 kg.

This is a heat-loving fish that is found in reservoirs located in large climatic zones. Its appearance resembles that of a snake. A very strong fish that is not so easy to catch.

It is a representative of the codfish and is similar in appearance to a catfish, but it does not grow to the size of a catfish. This is a cold-loving fish that leads an active lifestyle in winter time. Its spawning also occurs on winter months. It hunts mainly at night, while leading a bottom-dwelling lifestyle. Burbot is an industrial fish species.

This small fish with a long body covered with very small scales. It can easily be confused with an eel or a snake if you have never seen one in your life. It grows up to 30 cm in length, or even more if growth conditions are favorable. It is found in small rivers or ponds where there is a muddy bottom. It prefers to be closer to the bottom, and can be seen on the surface during rain or thunderstorms.

The loach belongs to the family salmon species fish Due to the fact that the fish does not have scales, it got its name. Grows to small sizes. Its meat does not decrease in volume under the influence of low temperatures. Characterized by the presence of fatty acids, such as omega-3, that can resist inflammatory processes.

It lives in rivers and feeds on various types of fish. Distributed in rivers of Ukraine. Prefers non-deep water areas. It can grow up to 25 cm in length. It reproduces by caviar at water temperatures within +8ºС. After spawning, it can live no more than 2 years.

The lifespan of this fish is considered to be about 27 years. It grows in length up to 1 m 25 cm, gaining weight up to 16 kg. It is distinguished by its dark gray-brown color. IN winter period practically does not feed and goes to the depths. It has valuable commercial value.

This fish lives only in the Danube basin and is not common anywhere else. It belongs to the family of salmon fish species and is a unique representative of the fish fauna of Ukraine. Danube salmon is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and fishing for it is prohibited. It can live up to 20 years and feeds mainly on small fish.

It also belongs to the salmon family and prefers rivers with rapid currents and cold water. It grows in length from 25 to 55 cm, while gaining weight from 0.2 to 2 kg. The trout diet includes small crustaceans and insect larvae.

It is a representative of the Eudushidae family, reaches a size of about 10 cm, while gaining a weight of 300 grams. It is found in the basins of the Danube and Dniester rivers. At the first danger, it buries itself in the mud. Spawning occurs in March or April. Likes to feed on fry and small invertebrates.

This fish is caught in industrial scale in Edver, Urals. Spawns at temperatures no higher than +10ºС. This predatory species fish that loves fast-flowing rivers.

This freshwater variety fish that belongs to the carp family. It grows up to 60 cm in length and gains up to 5 kg of weight. The fish is dark in color and is common in the Caspian, Black and Azov seas.

River fish without bones

Virtually no bones:

• In maritime language.
• In fish of the sturgeon family, belonging to the order Chordata.

Despite the fact that water has a certain density, the body of the fish is ideally suited for movement in such conditions. And this applies not only to river fish, but also to sea fish.

Typically, its body has an elongated, torpedo-like body shape. In extreme cases, its body has a spindle-shaped shape, which facilitates unhindered movement in the water. Such fish include salmon, podust, chub, asp, sabrefish, herring, etc. In still water, most fish have a flat body, flattened on both sides. Such fish include crucian carp, bream, rudd, roach, etc.

Among the many species of river fish there are both peaceful fish and real predators. They are distinguished by the presence of sharp teeth and a wide mouth, which allows them to swallow fish and other living creatures without much difficulty. Similar fish include pike, burbot, catfish, pike perch, perch and others. A predator such as a pike is capable of developing enormous initial speed during an attack. In other words, it literally swallows its prey instantly. Predators such as perch always hunt in schools. Pike perch leads a bottom-dwelling lifestyle and begins hunting only at night. This indicates his uniqueness, or rather his unique vision. He is able to see his prey in complete darkness.

But there are also small predators that are no different large size graze. Although, such a predator as the asp does not have a huge mouth, such as a catfish, for example, and it feeds only on young fish.

Many fish, depending on their habitat conditions, can have different shades. In addition, different reservoirs may have different food supplies, which can significantly affect the size of the fish.

Salmon fish.

Atlantic salmon, salmon.
The body is quite thick, spindle-shaped. Adult fish in the sea have a greenish or blue back and x-shaped spots on their sides. Below the lateral line there are no spots or they are very rare. The belly is silvery. Spawning individuals have a dark color with a bronze tint, sometimes with red spots. The fins are dark. The mouth is terminal, the maxillary bone extends beyond the vertical of the posterior edge of the eye. In mature males, the anterior end of the lower jaw has a hook that fits into a notch on the upper jaw. Caudal fin with notch. The smallest body height (the height of the caudal peduncle) is more than half the length of the caudal peduncle.

Brown trout.
The body is elongated, torpedo-shaped, covered with small, tightly fitting scales. There are 118-120 scales in the lateral line. The head is elongated. The mouth is big. The jaws have many small, inwardly curved, sharp teeth. An adipose fin is located behind the dorsal fin. During the marine feeding period, it has a silvery, sometimes yellowish, color. Young individuals (pargers) have a dark brown back, yellowish-gray sides, and a light belly with a yellowish tint. There are wide, dark gray transverse stripes on the sides of the body. The dorsal fin is yellowish-gray with dark and red spots. The anal, pectoral and pelvic fins are lemon yellow, the anal fin's anterior margin is white. The caudal fin is orange-yellow, the edges are orange. An orange border runs along the upper edge of the adipose fin, or less often an orange or pink spot. The head and body are covered with dark round spots. There are orange and red spots along the lateral line, as well as above and below it.

Brook trout.
Brook trout is a freshwater sedentary form of one of the species of salmon - brown trout. Favorite places habitats are fast, small and cold-water rivers and streams, abounding in springs and flowing in high banks.
The body is elongated, torpedo-shaped, covered with small, tightly fitting scales. The head is elongated. The mouth is big. The jaws have many small, sharp teeth curved inward. The dorsal fin is relatively high. There is an adipose fin behind the dorsal fin. The color is variegated - the back is dark brown, the sides are yellowish-gray, the belly is light, with a yellowish tint. Juveniles have wide, dark gray transverse stripes on the sides of their bodies. The dorsal fin is yellowish-gray with dark and red spots. The anal, pectoral and pelvic fins are lemon yellow, the anal fin's anterior margin is white. The caudal fin is orange-yellow, the edges are orange. An orange border runs along the upper edge of the adipose fin, or less often an orange or pink spot. The head and body are covered with dark round spots. There are orange and red spots along the lateral line, as well as above and below it.

Rainbow trout.
Fish of the salmon family. Length 50-90 cm, weight up to 2-3, less often 6 kg. It differs from brook trout in having a longer body, a notched caudal fin, a wide iridescent stripe along the lateral line, and the absence of red spots on the body. The scales are small, with 136-148 scales along the lateral line.

Whitefish.

European vendace.
A small (13-21 cm) herring-shaped, laterally flattened fish. The body is covered with rather large, easily falling silvery scales. Pelagic coloration - light belly, silvery sides, dark back. Dorsal and anal fins without spiny rays. Has an adipose fin. It differs from other whitefishes by its upper mouth and smaller size.

Whitefish
Inhabitant of the open deep-water part of lakes with a good oxygen regime. Only rarely does it enter the mouths of rivers flowing into lakes. It does not tolerate silting and turbid waters, which is why it avoids small bodies of water. It usually lives in flocks, usually in the bottom zone of water bodies. Refers to fish average duration life cycle. Puberty in females generally occurs in the 5th year of life, only in some females and in males in the 4th year of life. Spawning occurs late autumn, in areas with a sandy bottom.

Grayling fish.

European grayling.
The body is purulent, covered with relatively large, tightly fitting scales. Body length does not exceed 50 cm, weight 1.5 kg.
The back is greenish-gray, the sides are tin-silver with a bronze tint, the belly is silvery-white. The pectoral and pelvic fins are yellowish-gray, often reddish in large fish; dorsal, caudal and anal - with a purple tint. Young fish have large oval spots on their sides, which disappear with age. The maxillary bone in adults does not extend beyond the vertical of the anterior edge of the eye. The teeth are barely noticeable, located on the premaxillary, maxillary, palatine bones and vomer. The front of the throat and the area at the base of the pectoral fins are bare.
The main identification feature of grayling is a high and long dorsal fin, more developed in males, and often taking the form of a train.

Smelt fish.

European smelt.
Low temperatures combined with a large number oxygen in the entire mass of water in a number of lakes of the Blue Lakes natural complex is created favorable conditions for the life of cold-loving fish species, especially lake smelt.
The body is spindle-shaped, length 6-10 cm, less often up to 15 cm. The head is elongated, with large jaws, the lower jaw protrudes noticeably in front of the upper. The mouth is relatively large, lined with back-curved teeth. The sides and belly are silvery, the back is dark, brownish-green with a blue or purple tint. The dorsal fin is short, located in the middle of the body above the ventral fins. Behind the dorsal fin is an adipose fin. Males are smaller than females in size.

Sturgeon fish.

Sterlet.
Sterlet is a representative of a relict group of the most ancient inhabitants of the waters of our planet - sturgeon. In the water bodies of Belarus it lives only in the Dnieper basin.
The body is elongated, fusiform, covered with small bony plates. There are five rows of large bone plates (bugs) along the body. The dorsal bugs are in contact with each other, the lateral bugs are closely pressed to each other. The abdominal bugs of large specimens are greatly reduced. The pectoral fins are long, wide, and have a pad of fat at the base. The dorsal and anal fins are small and set back. The caudal fin is asymmetrical, the end of the spine extends into its upper lobe. The snout is elongated, pointed, slightly flattened. The mouth on the underside of the head is in the form of a wide, almost rounded slit, bordered by soft lips. The lips form a soft fold that allows the mouth to move outward. In front of the mouth are cylindrical fringed antennae. The color varies from dark to light depending on living conditions. The back is dark brown, the belly is yellowish or whitish, the fins are gray.

Carp fish.

Common barbel.
The body is long, cylindrical, without spots, olive-greenish-gray in color with a whitish belly. It differs from other carp fish in its trunk-shaped snout with a hump and two developed pairs of antennae located at the ends. upper lip and in the corners of the mouth. The head is large, the mouth is lower, semilunar. The lips are fleshy, the lower lip is unclearly tripartite. The pharyngeal teeth are three-rowed. The eyes are small and light brown. The dorsal fin is short, moderately notched and high, located above the ventral fin. The scales are relatively small, pointed at the end. In sexually mature males, small tubercles appear on the head, and narrow longitudinal stripes appear on the scales of the back and upper part of the sides. The dorsal and caudal fins are dark at the ends, the rest are reddish with a gray tint at the top. The upper lobe of the caudal fin is slightly longer than the lower one. The last unbranched ray of the high and short dorsal fin is thickened and equipped with teeth.

Common fisherman.
The body is elongated, laterally compressed. The head is elongated. The mouth is lower, semilunar. The snout is elongated and ends in a fleshy appendage. Between the back of the head and the dorsal fin there is a groove devoid of scales. The keel between the ventral and anal fins is also not covered with scales. The scales are relatively large, tightly fitting. The dorsal fin is short. The pharyngeal teeth are single-rowed (usually 5-5). The color is silver, the back is darker. During the spawning period, the back and sides darken, the paired and anal fins turn red. The largest individuals of anadromous fish reach a length of 45 cm and a weight of more than 1 kg. The local sedentary fisherman are much smaller.

Ordinary podust.
The body is moderately elongated. The general color of the body is light, the back is gray-green or dark green, the sides and belly are silvery, the dorsal and caudal fins are gray or blackish, the rest are red or yellowish. It is distinguished by a characteristic lower mouth in the form of a transverse or slightly arched slit. The cartilaginous snout protrudes noticeably forward, the lower jaw is pointed and covered with a horny sheath. The peritoneum is black. The pharyngeal teeth are single-rowed, knife-shaped and serrated, usually 6-6, rarely 7-6 and 6-5. In sexually mature males, during spawning, the head is abundantly covered with epithelial tubercles, orange-yellow spots appear on the gill cover and at the base of the pectoral fins, and a dark stripe appears along the body. Reaches a length of 50 cm and a weight of 2.5 kg.

Bream.
Fish of the carp family. Length up to 30, occasionally up to 75 cm, weight up to 1, rarely up to 5-6 kg. The body is high (about 1/3 of the length), strongly compressed laterally. The head is small, the snout is short. The mouth is semi-inferior, small, ending in a retractable oral tube. The pharyngeal teeth are single-rowed. The anal fin is very long. The first branched rays at the base of the fins are often hidden under the skin. The caudal fin is strongly notched. There is a bare keel between the anal and ventral fins. The scales are thick, tightly fitting. Young bream bears some resemblance to silver bream.
Commercial measure for commercial fishing is 27 cm, with recreational fishing- not installed.

Ide.
Fish of the carp family. Length up to 70 cm, weight up to 8 kg. Body compressed laterally. The dorsal and anal fins are truncated. The scales are small. There are 53-64 scales in the lateral line. The head is relatively short, the forehead is wide and convex. The eyes are greenish-yellow with a dark spot at the top. Lower mouth. The pharyngeal teeth are cylindrical, double-rowed.

Tench.
Fish of the carp family. Externally, it is easily distinguishable from all types of fish. Length up to 70 cm, weight up to 7 kg. The body is thick, awkward, with a shortened tail. The mouth is terminal, very small, fleshy, with one short antennae in the corners. The pharyngeal teeth are single-row (usually 4-5), wide, curved into small hooks at the ends. The eyes are small, with a red iris. All fins are rounded. The pelvic fins of males are noticeably longer. The skin is thick. The scales are small, tightly fitting, covered with a large layer of mucus.
The commercial measure for commercial and recreational fishing is 22 cm.

White cupid.
Fish of the carp family. Length up to 120 cm, weight up to 32 kg. The body is elongated, almost not laterally compressed, covered with dense scales. Along the edge of each scale, except for those located on the belly, there is a dark rim. The beginning of the rounded dorsal fin is located slightly anterior to the base of the ventral fins. The back in front of the dorsal fin and the belly behind the ventral fins are rounded. The pelvic fins do not reach far from the anus; the anal fin is small, slightly rounded. The mouth is semi-inferior, its posterior corner is located on the vertical of the anterior edge of the eye. The pharyngeal teeth are double-rowed, laterally compressed, with a sharp jagged edge. Its back is greenish-gray, its sides are light with a golden tint, and its belly is light golden. The iris of the eyes is golden. The dorsal and caudal fins are dark, all others are light.
The commercial measure for commercial and recreational fishing is 40 cm.

White silver carp.
Fish of the carp family. Body length up to 1 m, weight 20-25 kg. It is distinguished by a wide head with a convex forehead and low-set eyes on the sides. The body is moderately long, ridged, covered with very small scales. The mouth is upper, the jaws are of the same length, the lower one has a small tubercle, the upper one has a weak notch in the middle. The gill membranes are not attached to the interbranchial space, they are fused with each other, and form a large transverse fold. The dorsal fin is short, starting behind the base of the ventral fins. Anal fin elongated. There are no spiny rays in the dorsal and anal fins. The caudal fin has a notch and slightly pointed ends. A keel stretches along the entire body from the throat to the anus.

Variegated silver carp.
Fish of the carp family. The motley silver carp is similar in appearance and structure, life cycle features to the silver carp, differing from it in the absence of a keel on the belly, large relative sizes of the head and longer pectoral fins, a fleshier lower lip and a darker body color. Juvenile bighead carp have light or golden sides, while adult fish have dark spots. The dorsal fin is short.
The commercial measure for commercial fishing is 40 cm, for recreational fishing it is not established.

Carp.
Fish of the carp family. Far Eastern subspecies of common carp. Length up to 1 m, weight up to 25-30 kg. The body is wide and thick. The mouth is terminal, with a pair of short antennae at the corners and on the upper lip. Differs from carp in a smaller number (from 17 to 25) of gill rakers on the 1st gill arch and a smaller number of branched rays in the dorsal fin. The scales are large, darkish, yellow-golden.
The commercial measure for commercial fishing is 30 cm, for recreational fishing it is not established.

Silver crucian carp.
Fish of the carp family. By the end of the first year of life, silver crucian carp reach a body length of 10 cm and a weight of 25-30 g. Adult fish in the 5-6th year of life can reach a length of 30-40 cm and a weight of over 1 kg. In appearance, silver crucian carp is very similar to common crucian carp, differing in its somewhat oblong body shape, as well as a large number gill rakers on the first gill arch (39-54 in silver and 23-33 in common) and a longer intestinal tract. The scales are large and tightly fitting. The notch in the caudal fin of silver crucian carp is larger than that of common crucian carp. The pharyngeal teeth are single-rowed, like those of the common crucian carp.

Golden crucian carp.
Fish of the carp family. The sizes are variable: in natural reservoirs poor in food, in the 2nd year of life, the body length of golden crucian carp is 4-5 cm, weight up to 8-10 g, in food-rich waters - 20-25 cm and 250-300 g, respectively; In the lakes there are golden crucian carp up to 50 cm long and weighing up to 4-5 kg. The body is high, strongly compressed laterally. Often the body length exceeds the height by only 1.2-2 times, which is why it is sometimes called round crucian carp. The scales are large, tightly fitting, there are 32-35 scales in the lateral line. The dorsal fin is long, somewhat rounded at the apex. The caudal fin is weakly notched. The paired fins are sometimes reddish in color. The head is small. The mouth is small and terminal. The pharyngeal teeth are usually single-rowed.

Asp.
Fish of the carp family. Length up to 80 cm, weight up to 4, sometimes up to 12 kg. The body is purulent, elongated, laterally compressed. Behind the pelvic fins is a scale-covered keel. The head and mouth are large, the lower jaw protrudes somewhat forward, and has a tubercle that fits into the recess of the upper jaw (this helps to hold the caught fish). The pharyngeal teeth are double-rowed, smooth, and curved into a hook at the apex. The eyes are yellow, with a green stripe at the top. The body is covered with small scales.
The commercial measure for commercial and recreational fishing is 34 cm.

White-eye.
Fish of the carp family. Length up to 35 cm, weight up to 1 kg. Outwardly similar to bream, but has a more flattened and elongated body. The snout is thick, blunt, swollen. The eyes are large (up to 30% of the length of the head) with a white-silver iris (hence the name). The pharyngeal teeth are single-rowed.
The dorsal fin is short. The anal fin is very long, which significantly distinguishes the white-eye from the bream. The lower lobe of the caudal fin is longer than the upper one. The scales are relatively large, with 48-54 scales in the lateral line.

Guster.
Fish of the carp family. Length up to 35 cm, weight up to 1.3 kg, but usually 100-200 g. In appearance it resembles a bream, differing from it in double-row teeth, larger scales, a groove on the back not covered with scales, and a shorter anal fin. The head is small, with a small semi-lower retractable mouth. The paired fins at the base are yellowish or reddish (in bream they are always dark). The scales are thick, tightly fitting (there are from 43 to 51 scales in the lateral line).

Sinets.
Fish of the carp family. Length 25-30, sometimes up to 45 cm, weight 200-400 g, sometimes up to 800 g. Outwardly it resembles a bream, differing in a more elongated and strongly flattened body. The mouth is terminal, pointed, slightly turned upward, with the apex at the level of the upper edge of the eye. The pharyngeal teeth are single-rowed. The anal fin reaches almost to the end of the caudal peduncle, the length of its rays smoothly decreases towards the tail, without initially forming the elongated protrusion characteristic of bream. The scales are soft.
The commercial measure for commercial fishing is 20 cm, for recreational fishing it is not established.

Chub.
Fish of the carp family. Length up to 80 cm, weight up to 4 kg or more. It differs from related species of cyprinids by its thick, wide, slightly thickened head, almost cylindrical body and large scales (from 43 to 48 scales in the lateral line). The mouth is large and terminal. The pharyngeal teeth are double-rowed, curved into a hook at the apex.
The commercial measure for commercial and recreational fishing is 25 cm.

Rudd.
Fish of the carp family. Length up to 35 cm, weight up to 1 kg. Outwardly it resembles a roach, but has a taller, thicker and wider body. The mouth is terminal, facing upward; there is a yellow border on the lips. On the belly (from the pelvic fins to the anus) there is a well-defined, scale-covered keel. The pharyngeal teeth are double-rowed, laterally compressed and sharply serrated, their apices curved into hooks. Unlike the roach, the dorsal fin begins not above the ventral fin, but behind it. The scales are relatively large, dense, slightly golden. There are from 37 to 45 scales in the lateral line. The eyes are orange with a red spot in the upper half.

Common dace.
Fish of the carp family. Length 10-15, occasionally up to 30 cm, weight up to 500 g. Body moderately elongated, slightly compressed laterally. The mouth is small, semi-inferior. The pharyngeal teeth are double-rowed. The dorsal fin is truncated. The caudal fin is relatively long and notched. The scales are medium in size, with 46-54 scales in the lateral line. Externally, the dace is somewhat reminiscent of the chub, differing from it in having a more laterally compressed body, a narrow head, a small mouth, and a slightly cut out anal fin of gray or yellowish color (in the chub it is rounded and bright red).

Chekhon.
The body of the saber fish is compressed from the sides, the back is almost straight, and the lower edge of the body, along which the leathery outgrowth, the keel, stretches, has the appearance of a gentle arc. The position of the mouth is upper. The length of sabrefish can be up to 50 cm, weight 500-600 g. During the day it stays in the bottom layers of water, and at night, following food items, it rises to the surface layers. The sabrefish spawns in the 3rd to 5th year of life. In reservoirs, sabrefish spawn in the water column above areas with dense soil, where there is any movement water masses: in front of river mouths, at outlets groundwater, in areas with wind currents. The depth at the spawning grounds is 1.5-6 m. When the water fluctuates, the eggs rise from the bottom, then fall again, while they are constantly in good oxygen conditions. Chekhon - commercial fish, it is prepared in salted, dried and smoked form.
The commercial measure for commercial and recreational fishing is 24 cm.

Roach.
Fish of the carp family. Length 15-24, occasionally up to 42 cm, weight 50-500 g, occasionally up to 2 kg. Externally similar to rudd. The body is oblong, slightly flattened laterally. The head is relatively short. The pharyngeal teeth are single-rowed. Behind the pelvic fins is a scale-covered keel. The scales are large (there are 39-48 scales in the lateral line). The iris is yellowish-orange with a red spot at the top.

Amur Chebachok.
A Far Eastern fast-reproducing species of medium-sized fish (up to 12 cm). It was accidentally introduced into the territory of Belarus during the acclimatization of Far Eastern fish species (grass carp, silver carp). Prefers to live in rivers with fairly fast currents. In Belarus it is found in the upper reaches of the tributaries of the Dnieper and Pripyat. Just like the rotan, the sleeper competes for food resources with local fish species and eats their eggs, and when it develops massively, it displaces native species.

Lamprey fish.

River lamprey.
Fish-like chordates of the order Lampreys. The body is elongated, worm-shaped, without scales. They have 2 dorsal and caudal fins. There are 7 gill openings on the sides of the head. The mouth is a round suction funnel with horny teeth. They have a pair of well-developed eyes and an unpaired parietal eye. They differ from fish in the absence of separate jaws and the presence of a cartilaginous chord.

Eel fish.

European eel.
Fish of the eel family. Length up to 2 m, weight up to 6 kg. The body is serpentine, almost cylindrical, laterally compressed in the rear part. The head is small, somewhat flattened. There are numerous small teeth on the jaws and vomer. The eyes are small. The dorsal and anal fins are in contact with the caudal fin and form a continuous border along the rear edge of the body. The pectoral fins are short, wide, and there are no pelvic fins. The scales are very small, almost hidden in the skin, extending to the head and fins. Individual scales overlap one another, like other fish.
The fishing limit for commercial fishing is 50 cm; for recreational fishing, fishing is prohibited.

Pike fish.

Common pike.
Fish of the pike family. Length up to 1 m (occasionally up to 1.5 m), weight up to 8-12 kg (occasionally up to 35 kg). The body is elongated, arrow-shaped, with big head and a wide mouth dotted with numerous sharp, slightly inward-pointing teeth. The gill membranes are not attached to the interbranchial space. The dorsal and anal fins are set far back. The scales are small and thin.
The commercial measure for commercial and recreational fishing is 35 cm.

Perch fish.

Common pike perch.
Fish of the perch family. Length up to 70 cm (occasionally up to 130), weight 4-6 kg (occasionally up to 20). The body is elongated, dense, laterally compressed. The snout is pointed. Jaws with strong fangs, between which there are small teeth. The dorsal fins are separated by a gap, the first has 13-15 spiny rays, the second has 2-3 spines and 19-24 soft branched rays. The anal fin has 2-3 spines. The scales are dense and partially cover the gill cover.
The commercial measure for commercial and recreational fishing is 40 cm.

Perch.
Fish of the perch family. Length up to 50 cm, weight up to 1.5 kg, rarely up to 3 kg. The body is relatively high (hunchbacked in large individuals), laterally compressed. The head is big. The jaws, vomer and palatine bones have multi-row bristle-like teeth. The anal fin has 2 spiny and 8-10 soft rays. The pectoral fins are yellow, the pelvic and anal fins are red. The scales are relatively large, tightly seated, ctenoid type, and extend to the cheeks. There are 54-68 scales in the lateral line.

Catfish fish.

Som.
Fish of the catfish family. Captures of individuals up to 5 m long and weighing up to 300 kg are known. The body shape is to some extent similar to the burbot, but its head is more flattened and much wider; the mouth is huge and armed with numerous very small sharp teeth. The lower jaw is longer than the upper and protrudes slightly forward. The eyes are small, near the upper lip. There are 2 long antennae on the upper jaw and 4 shorter ones on the lower jaw. The dorsal fin is small (no spines). The long anal fin merges with the rounded caudal fin. The tail, strongly flattened laterally, occupies more than half of the body. There are no scales, the body is covered with soft skin that secretes large number mucus.
The commercial measure for commercial and recreational fishing is 70 cm.

Cod fish.

Burbot.
Fish of the cod family. Length up to 1 m, weight up to 24 kg. Outwardly, it somewhat resembles a catfish. The body is elongated, rounded, tapering posteriorly, covered with very small scales extending onto the head, gill covers, throat and fin bases. The head is wide and flattened. The upper jaw is longer than the lower jaw. The jaws and vomer are lined with small bristly teeth. There is an unpaired barbel on the chin, and 2 short barbels at the nostrils. The pectoral fins are short. The first rays of the pelvic fins are elongated into filamentous processes. There are 2 dorsal fins. The second dorsal fin and the anal fin reach the caudal fin, but do not merge with it. The lateral line extends almost to the end of the anal fin.
The commercial measure for commercial and recreational fishing is 36 cm.

Eleotris.

Rotan firebrand.
A Far Eastern species of medium-sized fish that prefers standing bodies of water (small lakes, ponds, artificial reservoirs), as well as slowly flowing sections of rivers (bays, oxbow lakes). Currently, the species is distributed throughout almost all of Belarus, especially in artificial reservoirs near large cities, as well as in all large river basins.
When developing massively, it can cause significant damage to the local ichthyofauna, competing for food resources and eating the eggs of other fish species. If there is a lack of food, the rotan firebrand is able to eat juveniles various types frogs (tadpoles).

Herring fish.

Black Sea sprat.
A small-sized (10-14 cm) fish species of Black Sea-Azov origin. Characterized by rapid sexual maturation and population growth. It lives mainly in the open part of water bodies, feeding on zooplankton. During mass development, it constitutes significant competition for juveniles of native fish species for trophic resources. There are known finds of this species in the middle part of Pripyat in the area of ​​​​the city of Mikashevichi.

Crustaceans.

Broad-clawed crayfish.
In Belarus it is more common in northern regions, where it inhabits lakes with clay or peaty bottoms, convenient for building burrows. In rivers, burrows are made under a steep bank, snags or stones. The broad-fingered crayfish avoids silted places. It feeds mainly on aquatic plants, but mollusks, worms, aquatic insects and their larvae, dead fish, frogs and their eggs and similar “products” are not uncommon in its diet.
This species has shorter and wider claws; there is a semicircular notch on the fixed finger of the claw.

Narrow-fingered crayfish.
Body length 120-180 (up to 250) mm, weight 100-120 (up to 200) g. The body consists of a head, chest and abdomen, covered with a chitinous shell impregnated with lime salts, which gives it a special strength, dark green color, surface the body is colored marbled.
The commercial measure for commercial and recreational fishing is 9 cm.

American striped crayfish.
The main danger of the invasion of American striped crayfish on the territory of Belarus is that this species is a carrier of crayfish plague caused by the pathogenic fungus Aphanomyces astaci. American crayfish are resistant to this disease, while European species (native to the fauna of Belarus - Astacus astacus and Astacus leptodactilus) are very sensitive to this disease, which can lead to the complete disappearance of native crayfish species in freshwater ecosystems, where American crayfish are also found along with local species . Unlike local species, it is tolerant to conditions of oxygen deficiency, characteristic phenomena in eutrophic and polluted waters. They are classified as r-selective species, with a relatively short life cycle, high fertility, high degree of growth and adaptation to changing environmental conditions.

Bivalves.

Thick pearl barley.
The shell is short ovoid, the crown weakly protrudes and is shifted towards the posterior side of the shell. The front part of the shell is 3-4 times shorter than the back part. The dorsal margin of the shell and the hinge plate are strongly curved. The shell is convex, thick-walled, and its outer surface is smooth with very thin growth lines. The sculpture of the surface of the crown is presented in the form of densely spaced wrinkled folds. The castle's teeth are massive. The dimensions of the shell may vary depending on living conditions: length 44 -72 mm, height 25 -36 mm, width 19 -27 mm.

Narrow toothless.
The shell is thin-walled, oval, elongated and very compressed. The dorsal edge of the shell is straight, slightly rising above the crown, and the ventral edge is rounded. Rear and leading edge The shells are wedge-shaped, with the posterior one being wider. The outer surface of the shell is smooth, the growth lines are very thin. The crown is wide, but not protruding, and its surface sculpture is presented in the form of short wavy thickenings, not always located along the growth line. The hinge platform is completely reduced, the ligament connecting the valves (ligament) is long and narrow. Dimensions: length 50 -60 mm, height 25 -30 mm, thickness about 15 mm.

There are food restrictions in all world religions. But in no other religious system are these restrictions distinguished by such scrupulous meticulousness and attention to detail as in Judaism. All animals and birds, according to the Torah and the kashrut system based on it, are divided into kosher - permitted for a Jew to eat, and non-kosher, that is, prohibited. The same applies to various waterfowl. A Jew can eat some fish, but others are strictly prohibited. What's the difference?

Concept of kosher and non-kosher fish

In the book “Vayikra” (part of the “Pentateuch”), regarding fish suitable for food, it is said this:

"9. This is what you eat from everything that is in the water: everything that has fins and scales in the water, in the seas and in the rivers, eat them.
10. And everything that does not have fins and scales in the seas and rivers, of all the small creatures of the water, of every living soul that is in the water, they are vile to you.
11. And they will be vile to you; you shall not eat of their flesh, and you shall abhor their carrion.
12. Anything that does not have fins and scales in the water is vile to you.”

In this text, fish refers not only to fish, but also to all other water-dwelling animals. Thus, fish that have scales and fins are considered kosher. For this reason, Jews cannot eat catfish, eels, sturgeon, sharks, as well as whales and dolphins. Mussels, oysters, shrimp, crustaceans, squid and other seafood are strictly prohibited.

Based on the presence of fins and scales in a fish, the caviar of these fish becomes kosher or non-kosher. Black caviar is forbidden to Jews, but red caviar is allowed. And with scales, it’s not so simple either. In some fish, for example sturgeon, the scales are so firmly attached that they can only be removed by cutting the skin. Such fish is also considered non-kosher. Carp is a fish completely permitted by kashrut, but naked carp, bred as a result of centuries of selection, is not considered such.

How can these prohibitions be explained?

Religious explanation

Most Jewish believers ask questions on the topic “why not?” They don’t bother themselves. Fish without scales and sea creatures are not kosher because they violate the laws of kashrut. That means it’s impossible, period.

However, Jews are an inquisitive people and inclined to figure everything out with their own minds. Therefore, there are other explanations.

Ethical explanation

Many theologians believe that the Torah forbids Jews to eat all sorts of “creepy things,” since this is not befitting a people whose purpose is to serve the Creator. By eating such disgusting food, a person is humiliated. Scales and fins are what separate fish from reptiles. If a fish has no scales (for example, an eel), how does it differ from these same reptiles?

There is another interpretation, also based on ideas about ethics. Any dietary restrictions imply the need for self-discipline. Food, after all, should support the body, give us strength, and not serve solely as an indulgence to our gluttony. Eating sea reptiles, which usually include rare and expensive fish species and various seafood delicacies, is precisely a tribute to gluttony.

Physiological explanation

Many Talmudists see the laws of kashrut as also concern for human health, since non-kosher foods are usually harmful to health. A pig is a dirty animal, eats sewage, and can become a source of infection. Prohibition of mixing dairy and meat food based on the fact that such food is very heavy and unhealthy for the stomach. Sea reptiles are often poisonous, and so on.

Hygienic explanation

Another interpretation of the prohibition of eating sea reptiles is based on the words of the Torah about “clean and unclean” animals. Clean ones are kosher. Non-kosher – unclean. What could be dirtier than the various aquatic creatures that live in the bottom of a reservoir, in the mud, and feed on carrion? These are crustaceans, mollusks, and even fish, such as catfish, in this sense they are not far from reptiles.

Education

Fish scales: types and features. Why do fish need scales? Fish without scales

December 13, 2017

Who is the most famous aquatic creature? Of course, fish. But without scales, its life in water would be almost impossible. Why? Find out from our article.

Why do fish need scales?

Fish without scales practically do not exist. In some species it covers the entire body from the head to the dorsal fin, in others it stretches parallel to the spine in separate stripes. If the scales are not visible at all, this means that they are reduced. It develops in the dermis, or corium of the skin, in the form of bone formations. In this case, a dense protective cover is formed. Examples of such fish are catfish, burbot, snake catcher, sterlet, sturgeon and lamprey.

Chemical composition

Fish scales are a bone or cartilaginous derivative of the skin. Half of it chemical elements make up inorganic substances. These include mineral salts, namely phosphates and carbonates of alkaline earth metals. The remaining 50% consists of organic substances represented by connective tissue.

Video on the topic

Types of fish scales

While performing the same functions, leather derivatives differ in their origin and chemical composition. Depending on this, several types of scales are distinguished. In representatives of the class Cartilaginous, it is placoid. This species is the most ancient in origin. The skin of ray-finned fish is covered with ganoid scales. In bones, it has the form of scales that overlap one another.

Placoid scale

This type of fish scale has been found in fossil species. Among modern species, its owners are stingrays and sharks. These are diamond-shaped scales with a clearly visible spike that protrudes outward. Inside each such unit there is a cavity. It is filled with connective tissue, permeated with blood vessels and neurons.

Placoid scales are very durable. In stingrays, it even turns into spines. It's all about its chemical composition, the basis of which is dentin. This substance is the basis of the plate. On the outside, each scale is covered with a glassy layer - vitrodentin. This plate is similar to the teeth of fish.

Ganoid and bony scales

Lobe-finned fish are covered with ganoid scales. It is also located on the sturgeon's tail. These are thick, rhombic-shaped plates. These fish scales are connected to each other using special joints. Their totality can be a solid shell, scutes or bones on the skin. On the body it is located in the form of rings.

This type of scale got its name from its main component - ganoin. It is a shiny substance that is a shiny layer of enamel-like dentin. It has significant hardness. Below is the bone substance. Thanks to this structure, placoid scales not only perform a protective function, but also serve as the basis of muscles, giving the body elasticity.

Bone scales, which are monogenic in composition, come in two types. Cycloid covers the body of herring, carp and salmon. Its plates have a rounded posterior edge. They overlap each other like tiles, forming two layers: cap and fibrous. In the center of each scale there are nutrient tubules. They grow in a cap layer along the periphery, forming concentric stripes - sclerites. They can be used to determine the age of the fish.

On the plates of ctenoid scales, which is also a type of bone scale, small spines or ridges are located along the posterior edge. They provide the hydrodynamic abilities of fish.

How many years, how many winters...

Everyone knows that the age of a tree can be determined by the growth rings on the trunk. There is also a way to determine the age of a fish by its scales. How is this possible?

Fish grow throughout their lives. In summer, conditions are more favorable as there is enough light, oxygen and food. Therefore, growth is more intense during this period. And in winter it slows down significantly or stops altogether. Activation of the metabolic process also causes scale growth. Its summer layer forms a dark ring, and its winter layer forms a white ring. By counting them, you can determine the age of the fish.

The formation of new rings depends on a number of factors: temperature fluctuations, amount of food, age and type of fish. Scientists have found that in young and mature individuals, rings form at different times of the year. For the first, this happens in the spring. Adults at this time only accumulate substances for the summer period.

The period of formation of annual rings also depends on the species. For example, in young bream this occurs in the spring, and in mature bream in the fall. It is also known that fish also form annual rings. tropical zone. And this despite the fact that there are no seasons, fluctuations in temperature and amount of food here. This proves that annual rings are the result of a combination of several factors: conditions external environment, metabolic processes and humoral regulation in the body of fish.

The most...

It would seem that what could be unusual about the scales? In fact, many fish have it unique characteristics. For example, the scales of coelacanth on the outside have a large number of bulges. This makes the fish look like a saw. No modern species has such a structure.

A goldfish so called due to its scales. In fact, this is a decorative form of goldfish. The first goldfish were bred in the 6th century in China by Buddhist monks. Currently, more than 50 breeds of this species are known with red, golden and yellow colors.

At first glance, the eel is a fish without scales. In fact, it is so small that it is almost invisible. It is also difficult to feel because the eel's skin produces a large amount of mucus and is very slippery.

So, fish scales are a derivative of skin. It is one of the structural features that ensures adaptation to life in aquatic environment. Depending on chemical composition placoid, ganoid and bone scales are distinguished.

Char is a fish that belongs to the salmon family, but differs from its fellows by its characteristically small scales. If you take a loach in your hands, it seems that it is naked, without scales, which is why it got its name.

About 10 varieties of loaches live in the Magadan and Kamchatka regions, which differ from each other in color, and this difference is most noticeable in mating season. These fish spawn several times during their lives. After spawning, some of the fish die.

There are loaches that spend the winter in fresh water, and their feeding occurs in the sea, but there are also varieties that do not leave rivers and lakes throughout their lives. Some species are highly adaptable to a variety of living conditions; they can live in rivers, lakes and even small streams. Such species, for example, include kunja and malma. And certain species live only in lakes, for example, palia, they even spawn in stagnant water.

The body shape of the loach is elongated, cylindrical, and the head is slightly flattened on top. The fins are large and there are no scales.

The mouth is located at the bottom of the muzzle, with clearly defined lips. The body color of the loach is dark - gray-brown, and indistinct spots are scattered throughout the body. Since there are a large number of subspecies, these fish are quite common and have a wide habitat.

Char habitat and abundance

These fish stick to deep areas of reservoirs, and accumulate in them in large numbers. Loaches lead a gregarious lifestyle. But in shallows with fast currents, they prefer to stay alone, hiding between the rocks.

The number of char, like many fish, is considered dynamic. They can be numerous in certain places, and then disappear completely, only to be restored again after some time. In the 80s, these fish practically disappeared from a huge number of biotopes due to their poor ecological situation. But in the 90s the species recovered and became numerous.

Char is a spotted fish.

At the same time, the distribution of char is uneven. Presumably that this type more numerous in the east, and in the west there are fewer of these fish. In certain complex ponds, char is found in large numbers.

Reproduction of loaches

These fish reach sexual maturity at the age of 3 years. At the same time, char is a fairly prolific fish; one female produces about 6 thousand eggs. Loaches measuring 8 centimeters with 1.9 thousand eggs were found in Sur populations.

These fish spawn in portions in May-June. The eggs are deposited in the sand, and in rivers they attach to underwater plants with the current. Sexual dimorphism is clearly visible: males are larger than females. In addition, males have a leathery ridge closer to the tail, which is larger in size than pectoral fins females

Growth and lifespan of loaches

Loaches are not very large fish.

Char - no big fish, it reaches about 18 centimeters in length and weighs up to 40 grams. In Mordovian populations average length the bodies of these fish are generally smaller - approximately 11-13 centimeters, and only some individuals grow up to 16 centimeters. These fish grow rapidly. Presumably, loaches live for about 6-7 years.

What does loach eat?

These fish feed on mollusks, chironomids, oligochaetes and other zoobenthophages. In addition, their diet consists of the eggs of other fish. Loaches are on the same food level as minnows. And since these two species live together, they compete with each other.

The meaning of char in nature

The loach lives 6 - 7 years.

In terms of economic purposes, this fish is not important, but it serves as a bioindicator of water purity. Char is caught on a fishing rod. Many fishermen use this fish as bait.

In Finland, char is widespread in both the south and north. At the same time, loaches are found in almost all streams, rivers, lakes and ponds, except in certain areas, for example, in the Trans-Urals.

These fish do not have high demands on the quality of water - they can live in cool springs and warm muddy water of ponds, and in ponds they can breed in huge numbers. This happens in Central Europe and Russia - Orenburg and Perm provinces. But beyond the Ural ridge, these fish live only in flowing water, while they are completely absent in stagnant bodies of water. Beyond the Urals, char is not often found even in flowing lakes, and prefers only small rivers. But the North Ural loaches differ from their Central Russian counterparts; most likely, they are two different species.

Loaches most often stick to the bottom, this also applies to muddy reservoirs and rivers with flowing water. These fish can swim energetically, but prefer to lie still, hiding between stones and snags. They often bury themselves in silt and sand. Sometimes they make burrows under stones and crawl into crevices, which is why their fins look padded.

In small rivers, these fish prefer to stay individually rather than in schools. At the same time, they prefer riffles and bays with shallow depths. But in lakes and dams, char are found in large flocks, where they choose deeper areas, especially in winter. At this time they accumulate in large numbers in deep holes, from which they emerge only in the spring, just before the opening of the river. And in non-freezing rivers, char stay on the riffles all winter. In small ponds, the water in which freezes almost completely, but there is a lot of silt at the bottom, char overwinter just as well as crucian carp.

Char has a fairly high vitality; it is able to withstand the drying out of swampy water bodies. He waits out this time in damp soil. When the water in reservoirs warms up very much in summer, these fish come to the surface and begin to rush around there. At such moments, the crows destroy them in large numbers, deftly grabbing them in flight.

Loaches feed on worms, water insects and the eggs of other fish. In dug ponds, loaches can cause significant harm, multiplying greatly and destroying crucian carp eggs. Sometimes this leads to the fact that crucian carp completely disappear in certain bodies of water.

In some ponds near Moscow this fish is very numerous. To prevent loaches from causing much harm, it is advisable to introduce perches or pikes into such ponds. In rivers, char are not so numerous (although rivers are their natural biotopes), this is due to their destruction by predators such as burbot. To survive in rivers, loaches have to hide between rocks during the day and get food only at night. And in ponds, char can lead an open life without fear of attack by predators during the day. These fish are very vulnerable to predators due to the fact that they can quickly swim only short distances, and then run out of steam.

Loaches, like loaches, do not tolerate weather changes well. When the water temperature changes, these fish often begin to rise to the surface, grab the water and fall like a stick into the depths. They show the strongest anxiety during a thunderstorm or before it begins. Electricity has a greater effect on bottom dwellers than on fish that live in upper layers water.

Loaches spawn quite early - in April, sometimes in May. At the same time, females lay a large number of eggs. In rivers they lay eggs on riffles, and in the spring they swim out of ponds into small streams. In April, they can also be found in ditches that have connections with ponds. During spawning, the male digs a hole in the sand so that the female can lay her eggs in it. The male guards the fertilized eggs until the fry hatch from them.

Since loaches are small in size, fishermen do not often pay attention to them and do not actively fish for them. They are caught with a fishing rod only in ponds, and in rivers, due to their small numbers, it is unlikely to be possible to catch a char with a fishing rod. But in ponds, when the loaches reproduce very actively, they peck at the bait incessantly. Char is best caught on red worms or bloodworms; it is rarely caught on bread. Loaches bite often, but the bite is quiet, so the float only drops slightly and slowly pulls to the side.

Since char is a very tenacious fish, it is an excellent bait for predatory fish. Trout and burbot go especially well on them. If there are a lot of burbot and chub in the reservoir, they also go well with char.

The loach is placed behind the back or behind the lip. If you use char as bait, then it is worth remembering that this fish likes to hide between stones. When fishing for perch and chub in rivers with strong currents, the loach should be baited with a special tackle consisting of three hooks on a vein liner, since in high currents predators grab the bait from the fly and often eat it. But the char is considered an excellent live bait because it has fleshy lips and is not so easy to remove from the hook, and it lives longer than a gudgeon. On land it does not die for a long time and remains alive in wet grass.

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