Tench (Tinca tinca)

Scientific name: Tinca tinca Linnaeus, 1758

The Tench (Tinca tinca) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 4–24°C (39–75°F).

Tench care at a glance

Temperature: 4–24°C (39–75°F)

Biology

Typically found in shallow, densely vegetated lakes and backwaters. Often overwinters buried in mud. Larvae and juveniles confined to dense vegetation. Adults inhabit warm lakes and pools with weed and mud bottom. Tolerates low oxygen saturations. Feeds on detritus, benthic animals and plant materials. Adult often prey mainly on molluscs. Spawns among dense vegetation in still water. Used as a fodder fish for bass. Utilized fresh and frozen; eaten pan-fried, broiled, and baked. Popular with amateur sport fishers. Its flesh is highly esteemed. Locally under threat due to river engineering. Reported to reach a maximum length of 84 cm TL.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Tinca tinca
Family: Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order: Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 70.0
Common length: 20.0
Depth range: 1 m (3 ft)
Environment: Freshwater; brackish; demersal; potamodromous; depth range 1 - ? m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: Eurasia: hypothesized as native in most Europe, naturally absent only in Ireland, Scandinavia north of 61?30'N, eastern Adriatic basin and western and southern Greece where it is now introduced. In Asia, native eastward to western Yenisei drainage south of 60? N. Introduced elsewhere.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2; tmax=10; Fec=120,000-800,000)