Zope (Ballerus ballerus)

Scientific name: Ballerus ballerus Linnaeus, 1758

Zope (Ballerus ballerus)

The Zope (Ballerus ballerus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 5–25°C (41–77°F).

Zope care at a glance

Temperature
5–25°C (41–77°F)

Biology

Occur in large lowland rivers with backwaters and also in eutrophic lowland lakes. Feed mainly on zooplankton in open water of backwaters and other still water bodies. Spawn along shores of rivers or in backwaters on submerged vegetation and also on gravel in moderate current. Migrate upriver in long distances to suitable spawning sites. Juveniles stay in backwaters and flooded zones along rivers. Enter freshened parts of seas to forage. Life span reaches more than 10 years. Locally threatened by habitat alterations along river banks.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Ballerus ballerus
Family
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order
Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
40.0
Common length
20.0
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; potamodromous
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Eurasia: large rivers draining to Baltic Sea, North Sea, Black Sea, Sea of Azov and Caspian Sea, where it is abundant in Volga, rare in Ural. Appendix III of the Bern Convention.
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=0.18-0.19; tm=4-5)

Sources

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

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