How does it look?

In Latvia, ide or orfe grows up to 72 cm, with a weight of up to 5.5 kg. The body of the ide is relatively tall and slightly flattened on the sides. The mouth is directed forward or slightly downward. The back is bluish-black or greenish-brown, the sides are dark silvery or slightly golden (the older the fish, the more golden the scales become), and the belly is silvery-white. The fins, especially the anal and ventral fins, are dark red, and the tail and dorsal fins can also be gray. The teeth in the throat are arranged in two rows.

Where does it live?

In Latvia, ide is found in many rivers and lakes. It inhabits large lowland rivers and nutrient-rich lakes. It is usually not found in small or heavily overgrown, especially closed lakes. The cultured form of ide, also known as orfe, has also been introduced into ponds and aquariums.

What does it eat?

Adult ide is predatory and mainly feeds on fish, while smaller ide feeds on benthos, aquatic plants, insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and also small fish.

Interesting and important facts

Ide reaches reproductive maturity at the age of 2-10 years (most commonly at 5-6 years), reaching a length of 12-40 cm. In Latvia, spawning occurs in April. It forms hybrids with the white bream and roach.

Information sources: Wikipedia

Image author: Anastasija Ovsepjana