# Bleak (*Alburnus*)

Bleak are small fish with a silvery body that shine in the sunlight. They are playful and often swim in schools, making them fun to watch!

- **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers and lakes
- **Also known as:** Blicca, Blicca bjoerkna

![Bleak](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426110/objects/4688.jpg)

## Appearance

The Bleak is a slender, silvery fish with a streamlined body and a pointed snout. It has small, shimmering scales that give it a bright, reflective appearance, making it look like a tiny silver dart in the water.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Actinopterygii
- **Order:** Cypriniformes
- **Family:** Cyprinidae
- **Genus:** Alburnus

## Interesting facts

- Ancient people used Bleak scales to make a shimmery paint called "pearl essence" for fake pearls!
- Bleak are a super important snack for many bigger fish and birds, keeping the food web going!
- Bleak are like a water quality alarm; they struggle if the water isn't clean enough.
- These tiny fish often jump out of the water to catch flying insects, a real acrobatic feat!

## Special abilities

- **Flash Mob Reflex:** Bleak can quickly form large, synchronized schools that confuse hungry predators, helping them stay safe.
- **Shiny Shield:** Bleak has highly reflective scales that flash sunlight, making it harder for predators to target just one fish.
- **Surface Snatcher:** Bleak can quickly dart to the water surface to snatch fallen insects, thanks to its agile body.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 8-20 cm
- **Weight:** 0.01-0.08 kg
- **Lifespan:** 3-6 years
- **Swim Speed:** 20 km/h
- **Maximum Depth:** 5 m
- **Water Type:** Freshwater

## Diet & Feeding

Bleak munch on tiny bugs, water fleas, and even small bits of plants floating in the water.

- **Primary Foods:** zooplankton, insect larvae, terrestrial insects, algae
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Northern Pike](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-pike) (*Esox lucius*) — A favorite meal for larger predatory fish.
- **Eaten by:** [Common Kingfisher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-kingfisher) (*Alcedo atthis*) — A quick meal for this speedy bird.
- **Eats:** Water Flea (*Daphnia pulex*) — A tiny floating snack that Bleak loves to eat.
- **Eats:** Bloodworm (*Chironomus plumosus*) — Larvae living in mud are a tasty treat.

## Traits

- [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
- [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
- [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

## Collections

- [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Bleak?

Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Bleak?

8-20 cm

### How much does Bleak weigh?

0.01-0.08 kg

### How long does Bleak live?

3-6 years

### What does Bleak eat?

Bleak munch on tiny bugs, water fleas, and even small bits of plants floating in the water.

### How fast can Bleak swim?

20 km/h

### Where is Bleak usually found?

Freshwater rivers and lakes

### How does Bleak hunt?

Foraging

## More Fish

- [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*)
- [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*)
- [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*)
- [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*)

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Source: [Bleak: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bleak)