10 20 40 60 cm
mittakaava < 60 cm
Gösta Sundman: Suomen Kalat (Kansalliskirjasto, The National Library of Finland), Lauri Urho, Jouko Lehmuskallio, Petri Savola (Uudenmaan ympäristökeskus). All rights reserved.
- Other names: Common bream
- Family: Carps and minnows – Cyprinidae
- Similar species: blue bream, white bream
- Size: 25–50 cm, 0.5–2 kg, seldom exceeds 5 kg.
- Appearance: A deep-bodied fish with a high dorsal fin and long anal fin. Anal fin usually has 26–30 rays, rather more than the similar white bream (22–26) but fewer than the blue bream (36–47). Scales slightly smaller than on the white bream but bigger than on the blue bream. The lateral line has 51–60 scales compared with 43–48 for the white bream and 67–75 for the blue bream. Mouth protractile. Eye diameter less than distance from edge of eye to tip of snout. Size is another means to identification, bream over 1 kg in weight are always common bream. However, in some slow-growing populations individuals may not grow much larger than white or blue bream.
- Colouring: Specimens under c. 30 cm have silvery sides and a dark back. Belly always pale and fins dark grey, never reddish. Older fish tend to become much darker with golden or copper-coloured sides.
- Reproduction: Spawns in May–June among vegetation in shallow bays. May spawn in groups of 2–3 at intervals of one or two weeks.
- Food: Benthic invertebrates.
- Distribution and habitat: Common in lakes and sluggish rivers as far north as the river Oulujoki system. Further north found only in isolated locations. Also common in nutrient-rich coastal inlets, but can move further out to sea to feed and over-winter.
A bottom feeder, bream move in small shoals in shallow and moderately shallow water in search of food. Spends winter in deeper water provided oxygen levels are good. Can tolerate lower oxygen levels resulting from eutrophication, in which case it seeks shallower water.