All fish / Tincidae

Tench

Tinca tinca

Also known as green tench, golden tench, doctor fish, red tench, tinca, tench fish, テンチ, 丁鱥, 丁鲷

The tench is a stocky, slimy carp relative with tiny scales, a pair of small barbels and striking red eyes, usually olive green to bronze, while the golden form is bright yellow with dark spots. It is mostly kept in garden ponds, where it is hardy, calm and spends its time grubbing through the bottom for food.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

30 cm

Temperature

4 to 24 °C

pH

6.5 to 8

Smallest tank

1000 litres

Keep as

Small group of 3 or more

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets, worms, bloodworm, snails, insect larvae and some plant matter

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 20 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Europe and western Asia, from Britain and Iberia east to Siberia

Breeding

Tench scatter sticky eggs over water plants in late spring and summer once the water rises above about 18 to 20°C. They breed fairly readily in large, well planted ponds, but spawning in an aquarium is rare.

Good to know

It grows big and lives for a long time, so it really needs a pond rather than a home aquarium. Some regions where it is not native restrict moving or releasing it, so never put it into wild waters.