Head to head
Chub vs Barbel
Chub
VS Barbel
The chub and the barbel are two large, powerful members of the carp family that anglers prize in the rivers of western and central Europe, but they live very different lives.
| Chub | Barbel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Squalius cephalus | Barbus barbus |
| Relationship | A fellow member of the carp family that shares many rivers with the barbel | A fellow member of the carp family that shares many rivers with the chub |
| Head and mouth | A blunt, broad head and a large mouth | Four sensitive, whisker-like barbels around the mouth, used to taste and feel for food on the bottom |
| Body | A thick, cylindrical, silvery-bronze body with dark-edged scales | A long, rounded, torpedo-shaped body, golden-brown above and pale below, built for holding position in fast current |
| Diet | Insects, crayfish, snails, small fish, and fruit such as cherries and elderberries that fall into the water | Insect larvae, shrimps, snails, and small fish rooted from the river bed, and sometimes plant material |
| Behaviour | Famously shy, bolting for cover at the slightest shadow or vibration, with older fish lying alone under trees and in deep pools | A powerful swimmer that holds station in fast water and is a favourite with anglers for its strength when hooked |
| Spawning | Lives in shoals when young, while large older fish tend to lie alone or in small groups | Migrates upstream in early summer to spawn in clean, shallow gravel, where the eggs are laid and left |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, found in rivers across most of Europe and parts of western Asia | Least Concern, though rare where rivers are polluted or dammed |
Chub vs Barbel: common questions
Which one has whiskers?
The barbel, which has four sensitive barbels around its mouth, whereas the chub has no whiskers and a broad, blunt head.
Which fish is shier?
The chub, a famously shy fish that bolts for cover at the slightest shadow or vibration and is hard to approach.
Are barbel eggs safe to eat?
No, the roe of the barbel is poisonous to humans and can cause severe stomach upset if eaten.