How does it look?

Chinese sleeper is a medium-sized freshwater fish with a large head. The front part of the body is round in cross-section, but the rear is flattened from the sides. The body length can reach 25 cm, with a weight of 350 g, although typically it measures between 10-20 cm. The head is flattened from the top, and the eyes are almost on the surface of the head. The mouth is equipped with teeth that face upwards. The body is covered with scales, and there is no lateral line.

Its coloration consists of a greenish-black back, while the sides and belly are greenish-yellow with dark spots. The dorsal fins exhibit dark stripes, and both the anal fin and tail fin have dark spots.

Where does it live?

Chinese sleeper preferably inhabits stagnant water bodies with abundant vegetation. It resides in very slowly flowing rivers, lakes, ponds, and marshes.

What does it eat?

Chinese sleeper is a predatory fish that feeds on a variety of invertebrates such as insects, their larvae, and crustaceans, as well as small fish. In water bodies where perch resides, it becomes a significant threat to the local fauna. In smaller bodies of water, over time, it can deplete the population of other fish and invertebrates.

Interesting and important facts

Chinese sleeper is a fearless fish, known for its invasive nature and rapid expansion. Similar to the crucian carp, it exhibits resilience to oxygen deficiency. When burrowed in the mud, it can survive in water bodies that may dry up or freeze. Reproductive maturity occurs at the age of 1-3 years, typically when the fish reaches a length of 4-12 cm. Spawning takes place from May to August. The female's fertility ranges from 200 to 20.000 eggs. The male fearlessly guards both the eggs and fry, and it may bite fingers if someone reaches their hand towards the eggs.

Information sources: Wikipedia

Image author: Anastasija Ovsepjana