How does it look?

Zander is the largest fish in the perch family. Its body length can reach 100 cm, and weight 10.3 kg. Typically, a zander is about 50 cm long. The body of zander is streamlined, slightly flattened from the sides. On the back, there are two dorsal fins: the first fin with sharp rays, the second one with soft rays. The anal fin also has sharp and soft rays. The mouth has large forward-facing teeth. Zander also has gill covers. The back can be bluish-green or bluish-gray, and the sides and belly are dark silvery. Dark crossbars are visible on the sides. The tail fin and both dorsal fins may have dark spots.

Where does it live?

An adult zander lives in large, murky rivers and nutrient-rich lakes. Zander is predominantly a solitary fish and usually stays alone, although the fry may form schools.

What does it eat?

Zander is predatory and primarily feeds on fish, often preying on other fish residing in the same area.

Interesting and important facts

Reproduction for zander occurs at the age of 2-10 years, with the most common age being 4 years and when reaching a length of 17-57 cm. In Latvia, spawning typically takes place in May. The female zander's fertility ranges from 5.000 to 2.5 million eggs. After spawning, the female leaves the nest, while the male remains to guard it, fanning the nest with its fins and providing oxygen-enriched water. In Latvia, zander can live up to 13 years.

Information sources: Wikipedia

Image author: Anastasija Ovsepjana