How does it look?

The adult common bream typically attains a body length of 30-55 cm, with an average weight ranging between 2-4 kg. However, bream have been known to reach lengths of up to 75 cm and weigh more than 6 kg. Characterized by a laterally compressed body, the bream features a distinctly elevated dorsal hump. Silvery-grey scales cover its body, though older individuals may develop a bronze tint, especially in clear waters. The fins of the bream are dark grey or almost black, never red, serving as a crucial distinguishing feature from other similar fish. The head is relatively small, with small eyes and fins, and the bream is equipped with numerous sharp spines.

Where does it live?

Common bream lives in canals, and slow-flowing rivers. It prefers areas close to the bottom, such as depressions and calm backwaters. However, it is usually absent in small streams or small, heavily overgrown, and enclosed lakes.

What does it eat?

Common bream exhibits nocturnal feeding behavior, actively searching for food in cleaner and shallower waters during the night compared to daytime. Its diet consists of various organisms, including caddisfly larvae, worms, snails, and, for larger individuals, even smaller fish. Moreover, bream consume aquatic plants and zooplankton. During the spawning season in fast-flowing waters, young bream utilize their gill rakers to filter water, primarily targeting water fleas for sustenance.

Interesting and important facts

Common bream, also known simply as bream, is the sole species in the Abramis genus. Reproductive maturity in bream typically occurs between 2 and 13 years of age, coinciding with lengths ranging from 5 to 41 cm. Female bream exhibit a fertility rate of approximately 400 to 912.000 eggs. The spawning season for bream in Latvia takes place during May and June.

When facing insufficient food availability, bream may develop a thin and sharp dorsal line. It is important to note that bream shares similarities with roach and rudd, leading to potential confusion. Hybrids can form between bream and roach, rudd, perch, and bleak.

Information sources: Wikipedia

Image author: Anastasija Ovsepjana