Sichel (Pelecus cultratus)

Scientific name: Pelecus cultratus Linnaeus, 1758

The Sichel (Pelecus cultratus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 10–20°C (50–68°F).

Sichel care at a glance

Temperature: 10–20°C (50–68°F)

Biology

Shoaling in lower reaches of large rivers and in the eastern Baltic, the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea. Spawns in spring in midstream. Feeds on zooplankton, terrestrial invertebrates and small fish.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Pelecus cultratus
Family: Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order: Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 60.0
Common length: 25.0
Depth range: 20 m (66 ft)
Environment: Freshwater; brackish; pelagic; anadromous; depth range 20 - ? m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: Eurasia: lower reaches of rivers and brackish waters of eastern Baltic, Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Aral Sea. In Appendix III of the Bern Convention (protected fauna).
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.20; tmax=11)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026