Fish
Ide
Leuciscus idus · also called orfe
In the slow, deep water of a northern European river, a shoal of ide moves in a silvery sheet, with the golden orfe of garden ponds as their cultivated cousin.
Overview
The ide, Leuciscus idus, is a Least Concern carp relative of rivers and lakes across northern and eastern Europe and northern Asia. Its silvery shoals, large size, and golden ornamental form make it one of the best-known fish in both the wild and the garden pond.
From river to garden pond
The golden orfe, a golden-orange form of the ide, is a classic ornamental pond fish, prized for its colour and for its habit of swimming near the surface in shoals.
Status
Least Concern, widespread.
Ide: common questions
What is a golden orfe?
It is a golden-orange cultivated form of the ide, bred for and widely kept in garden ponds.
How is the ide different from the chub?
It has a deeper, more laterally flattened body and a smaller mouth than the chub.
How big can an ide grow?
It can grow beyond 50 cm in length and weigh several kilograms.
Where is the ide found?
It lives in rivers and lakes across northern and eastern Europe and northern Asia, and in the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea.