Fish
Sunbleak
Leucaspius delineatus · also called belica
Just under the surface of a still pond, a shoal of sunbleak glitters in the light, tiny silver fish that nibble at the insects floating above.
Overview
The sunbleak, Leucaspius delineatus, is a Least Concern carp relative of ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow rivers across central and eastern Europe, and an invader in Britain. Its small size, shoaling habits, and egg-guarding males make it an unusual little fish.
A father that guards a reed
Unlike most carp relatives, which scatter their eggs and leave them, the male sunbleak guards a spiral string of eggs wrapped around a reed stem.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and invasive in Britain.
Sunbleak: common questions
How does the sunbleak lay its eggs?
The female lays her eggs in a spiral string around a reed stem or twig, and the male guards them until they hatch.
Is the sunbleak native to Britain?
No, it was accidentally introduced in the 1980s, probably with other fish, and has since spread across parts of England.
How big is a sunbleak?
It is a very small fish, usually only 5 to 8 cm long.
Where is the sunbleak found?
It lives in ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow rivers across central and eastern Europe, and in Britain where it has been introduced.