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| Recognition | A deep bronze to olive green body which is covered in mucous. The fins are rounded and paddle-like and much larger in the male. Used to be known as the Doctor Fish due to mythical healing powers. |
| British record | 15lb 3oz |
| Location | Still waters and very slow-flowing rivers with dense weed beds and silt bottoms. |
| 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 | Usually dawn, often dusk. |
| Natural Food | Bloodworm, worm, insect larvae, crustacea, molluscs. |
| Maturity | 3 – 5 years, male and female. |
| Spawning Times | May to August |
| Preferred Spawning Areas | Shallow water, dense weed beds with little or no flow. |
| Fecundity | 300,000 to 400,000 eggs per kg of body weight. |
