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| Recognition | The Barbel is streamlined, almost torpedo-shaped, with a large tail and dorsal fin. On its mouth are two sets of barbules, one set on its snout and the other set on the corner of its mouth. The eyes of a barbel are small and set high on its head. |
| British record | 19lb 6oz 8dr |
| Location | The barbel is a river fish but has been stocked into some stillwaters. A species that prefers fast rivers with gravelly bottoms, but is capable of thriving in slower, mud bottom rivers. |
| Behaviour | A shoal fish usually moving around in small groups close to the bottom. |
| Preferred Habitats | Prefers fast water over gravel/weed beds and will feed over them using its barbules to find food. |
| Best Feeding Times | Day/Night |
| Natural Food | Crustaceans, Insect larvae, Molluscs. |
| Maturity | Males 3-4 years / females 5-8 years. |
| Spawning Times | May – July |
| Preferred Spawning Areas | Gravel beds |
| Fecundity | 8,000-12,000 eggs per kg of body weight |
