Tench

The tench is a fish that lives in the still, planted lakes, ponds and slow-flowing waters of Europe and western Asia; it is also native to Türkiye. Its body is covered with a thick, slippery slime coat, and because its scales are very small its skin looks like velvet, which is where its Turkish name ("velvet fish") comes from. Its small red-orange eyes and the single pair of barbels at the corners of its mouth are distinctive. In ornamental ponds the bright yellow golden form is more commonly kept. Adults reach 30–40 cm, and more in the wild.

• A pond of at least 2000 liters and at least 1 m deep for a few adults; it can be kept in an aquarium only while young.
• 15–22°C is ideal; it spends the winter resting at the bottom of the pond.
• A soft muddy or sandy bottom and dense aquatic plants.
• It tolerates low oxygen, but good filtration and aeration ensure a long life.

Omnivorous; it digs through the bottom searching for larvae, worms, snails and small crustaceans. It feeds on sinking pond pellets, worms, bloodworms and vegetables.

A peaceful, slow and shy bottom fish; it spends most of its time among the plants or on the bottom. It is rarely seen out in the open during the day and is more active at dusk.

Good companions: in a pond, cool-water fish such as koi, long-bodied goldfish types, golden orfe and rudd.

Avoid: tropical fish, dwarf shrimp and small snails (they get eaten).