ExploreFish

Tench

Tinca tinca

The Tench is a smooth, greenish fish that enjoys hiding in the mud. It's a peaceful fish that swims slowly!

Habitat: Ponds and lakes

Appearance

The Tench has a thick, olive-green to golden-brown body with very small, smooth scales. It has distinct bright red-orange eyes and a small barbel at each corner of its mouth, setting it apart from many other freshwater fish.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderCypriniformesFamilyCyprinidaeGenusTinca

Tench

Interesting facts

Female tench can lay hundreds of thousands of tiny green eggs in just one go!

Its bright red eyes glow, helping it spot food in the darkest, murkiest waters.

Tench are sometimes called 'doctor fish' because other fish rub against their slime!

Unlike most fish, tench can breathe air for a short time if caught out of water!

Special abilities

Tench has a thick mucus layer that helps them resist disease and parasites.

Tench can find food in murky water using sensitive barbels near its mouth like tiny feelers.

Tench can survive in water with low oxygen because of its unique blood and gill structure.

Tench can slightly change its skin color to better blend into the muddy lake bottom.

Measurements & details

Length: 20-70 cm
Weight: 1-7.5 kg
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Swim Speed: 8 km/h
Max Depth: 10 m
Water Type: Freshwater

Diet & Feeding

Tench are bottom-feeding omnivores that snack on tiny creatures and plants found in the mud.

Primary Foods

Insect larvae
Small crustaceans
Snails
Worms
Aquatic plants
Detritus

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

A large fish predator.

eaten by

Eurasian Otter

Lutra lutra

Hunts fish in freshwater.

eaten by

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

Wades to catch fish.

eats

Bloodworm

Chironomus plumosus

Feeds on mud-dwelling larvae.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Solitary

Meet animals that enjoy their independence! These creatures prefer to live by themselves, finding food and shelter on their own.

Omnivorous

Meet versatile eaters who enjoy a wide variety of foods, from plants to other animals, allowing them to adapt to many different environments. They're nature's flexible diners!

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!