Tench ©Jack Perks
Tench
A handsome fish, the tench has olive-green flanks, powerful fins and distinctive red eyes. It can be found in lowland lakes and slow-flowing rivers around the UK.
Scientific name
Tinca tincaWhen to see
January to DecemberSpecies information
Statistics
Length: 40-70cmWeight: 3-6kg
Average Lifespan: 15 years
Common.
Habitats
About
The tench is a medium-sized, heavy, deep-bodied fish. It can be found in soft-bottomed lakes and in slow-flowing rivers with plenty of vegetation. Tench are quite shy fish, hiding among dense weed. They feed on invertebrates, including pond snails and small pea mussels. Spawning in summer, males chase females, fertilising the eggs as soon as she has laid them in shallow beds of algae or vegetation.How to identify
The tench is dark greeny-bronze in colour, with blackish, rounded fins, a deep tail, red eyes and, in some instances, a golden-orange throat and belly.Distribution
Widespread in lowland England, but rarer in Wales and Scotland.In our area
In the Isle of Man, tench are non-native but known to be present.
Did you know?
Also known as the 'Doctor Fish', the tench was thought to possess healing properties because it had been observed rubbing against other fish - behaviour thought to heal wounded fish and cure parasites and disease. This led to people boiling tench 'slime' (mucus that covers their body) to use as a medicine.In the Isle of Man, tench are non-native but known to be present.