HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOther freshwater fishJohn dory John dory (Zeus faber) Scientific name: Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758 The John dory (Zeus faber) is a brackish-water fish of the family Zeidae. BiologyFound in areas close to the sea bed. Generally solitary. Feeds mainly on schooling bony fishes, occasionally on cephalopods and crustaceans. Reproduction takes place at the end of winter and at the start of spring in the northeastern Atlantic, earlier in the Mediterranean. Eggs are pelagic, maturity reached at 4 years. Sold fresh and frozen. Can be steamed, fried, broiled, boiled, microwaved and baked. The flesh is excellent but is utilized little in West Africa.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameZeus faberFamilyZeidae (Dories)OrderZeiformes (Dories)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length90.0Common length40.0Depth range5–400 m (16–1312 ft)EnvironmentMarine; brackish; benthopelagic; oceanodromous; depth range 5 - 400 m, usually 50 - 150 mClimateTemperateDistributionWorldwide in distribution. Eastern Atlantic: Norway to South Africa, also the Mediterranean and Black Sea. Western Pacific: Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Also known from the Indian Ocean.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariumsResilienceLow, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.15; tm=3-4; tmax=12) More other freshwater fishFinescale tigerfishDatnioides microlepisFreshwater garfishXenentodon cancilaShort-tailed pipefishMicrophis brachyurus brachyurusPumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusLined soleAchirus lineatusSouth American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxaSee all other freshwater fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026