Freshwater Fish of Great Britain Quiz

Answer: Zander

The zander looks like the offspring of a pike and a perch but is not related to either species. It was introduced into British waters in the 1960's. It flourished in the lowland waters of Great Britain due to the slow flowing nature of the lowland rivers. While zander are young they hunt in packs. The zander becomes solitary upon reaching maturity.

Answer: Roach

The roach is the most common freshwater fish and can be found all over Great Britain. It can be found in canals, rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Roach can live up to an age of 20 years. It can take up to a decade for the roach to reach a pound in weight. Young roach tend to form in schools, while the larger roach will be on the fringes of the school.

Answer: All are correct

Along with salmon, all the listed species are farmed in Great Britain. Aquaculture, or fish farming, makes up 60% of food exports from Scotland.

Answer: Barbel

The barbel got its name from the Latin word "barba" which means beard. The barbel has two set of barbs next to its mouth which it uses to track down its meal. Its mouth is highly underslung allowing it to feed from rocky or gravel riverbeds. It is estimated that the barbel can live up to 30 years.

Answer: Tench

The tench was given the name "the doctor fish" because, according to folklore, the slime from the tench cured any sick fish that rubbed against it. The slime actually protects the tench as it swims in heavy plant life. The golden version of the tench is more commonly found in garden ponds as an ornamental fish.

Answer: Stickleback

The stickleback has the nickname "Tiddler" or "Sprick". It gets its name from the three spikes on the top of its body where the dorsal fin is located in many fish species. The male stickleback will build a nest for the female to lay her eggs. After the male has fertilised the eggs he will stay at the nest to guard it.

Answer: Sturgeon

Along with porpoises, dolphins and whales, the sturgeon is designated as a royal fish. Under British law, if a sturgeon is caught, the "Receiver of Wreck" must be notified. The "Receiver of Wreck" is an official who deals with the disposition of flotsam, jetsam, lagan and derelict. The wild sturgeon is a rare fish in British waters and is rarely caught.

Answer: Pike

The pike is the main apex predator found in the freshwaters of Great Britain. It is an ambush predator and its camouflage is well suited to British waters. It launches a lighting fast attack hoping to nab its prey with its razor sharp teeth. Young pike, called "jack pike", have to watch out for larger pike, as they can find themselves being eaten.

Answer: Wels catfish

The wels catfish is not a native to Great Britain and has no natural predator there. In its home waters on the European mainland the wels catfish can grow to weigh over 220 pounds. The record catch in Great Britain was 62 pounds. The wels catfish has numerous small Velcro-like teeth to hold its prey before pushing it towards the crushing pads at the back of the throat.

Answer: Perch

The perch has a dark green body with vertical stripes and red fins. It was introduced to Australia in the late 1860's where it has been nicknamed "redfin perch". Perch have two dorsal fins. The first has spines that run along it, so care must be taken when handling. Perch are known for trying to feed on fish species larger than themselves.