| | |
| Recognition | Blood-red fins, deep rounded body green/gold in colour, protruding bottom lip. |
| British record | 4lb 10oz |
| Location | Ponds, lakes, reservoirs, rivers. |
| Behaviour | A shoal fish often found in large numbers. |
| Preferred Habitats | Shallow ponds and lakes, usually with reed beds, sand and silt bottoms. |
| Best Feeding Times | Most often dusk, sometimes dawn. |
| Natural Food | Insect larvae, algae, zooplankton. |
| Maturity | 3 – 4 years, male and female. |
| Spawning Times | May to July |
| Preferred Spawning Areas | In and at the edge of weed beds, occasionally open water. |
| Fecundity | 100,000 to 200,000 eggs per kg of body weight. |
