Tench

Looks how to spot one

Small-scaled, slippery-skinned fish

A thick-set fish with a deep tail root, a squarish tail and rounded fins. Its tiny scales sit deep in a thick, slimy skin that feels almost as smooth as an eel. The thick-lipped mouth has two short barbels.32

Personality what they are like

Shy and peaceful. It keeps a low profile among plants and on the bottom, and gets on well with other calm pond fish.23

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Mostly active at night or in dull weather, spending bright days tucked into plants. In winter it rests on or in the mud and stays largely inactive until spring.23

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Suits a mature, planted pond with a soft bottom where it can root about and rest through winter. Because it hides a lot, expect to see it mainly around dusk.23

Home where they are happiest

Still or slow water with a soft muddy or clay bottom and lots of plants, such as a well-planted pond. FishBase lists 4 to 24 °C; German sources give about 12 to 26 °C as the preferred range. Copes well with lower oxygen levels.123

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Omnivorous bottom feeder. Eats small invertebrates such as insect larvae and snails, plus detritus and some plant matter and algae; it prefers animal food.123

The story where it all began

Carl Linnaeus described the tench scientifically in 1758, and the genus name Tinca followed in 1764. In Britain it became known as the 'doctor fish' through an old belief that other fish rubbing against its slime would be healed. It is also farmed and fished for food across Europe.231

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Assessed as Least Concern (2022)1

Fish of the Year (Germany / Austria)

Fish of the Year in Germany 2007 and Austria 2007 and 20242