Golden Tench 2-3" inches

The tench, or Tinca tinca, is a fresh and brackish-water fish of the order Cypriniformes found throughout Western Europe including the British Isles, and into Asia as far as the Ob and Yenisei Rivers. Tench normally inhabit slow-moving freshwater habitats, particularly lakes and lowland rivers, and is becoming a very popular choice for garden ponds.

Tench are a bottom-dwelling coldwater fish species, often found in still, muddy waters. Tench are commonly kept in garden ponds, and wildlife ponds, due to its hardyness, but care must be taken to provide habitat and shelter for them. A bare ornamental Koi pond may not be a suitable habitat for Tench. Tench will often thrive in pairs or groups.

Do Green or Golden Tench eat Blanketweed or Algae?
Tench will graze on vegetation but are not commonly known for eating or controlling blanketweed or algae. It is quite possible that they will eat what is on or underneath the algae or blanketweed, which is presumably where the common misconception comes from. Grass Carp are more likely to graze on blanketweed than Tench.

What is the difference between Golden and Green Tench?
Gold or golden tench are not as common in the wild as Green Tench, and are often smaller than Green Tench, which makes them a slightly better choice for small to medium sized garden ponds.

Why are Tench also known as Doctor Fish?
Tench have small scales and produce a thick layer of body mucous, which other species would rub against to utilise the healing power of their slime. For this reason the name "Doctor Fish" became associated with Green or Golden Tench.

Features
Approx. supplied size: 2-3" / 5-7cm
Maximum size: 24" / 60cm+
Origin: Europe, Asia
Family: Cyprinidae
Temperament: Generally peaceful
Lighting requirement: low
Ideal number kept together: 2+

Water Conditions
Our conditions: pH 7.5, temp 15 °C
Ideal pH: 6.0–8.0
Water flow: low to moderate
Temperature: 2–30 °C

Ease of Care
Easy. Can grow moderately large but at a fairly slow rate. Very hardy but do need hiding places, so a bare-bottom pond may not be suitable.

Feeding
Tench can and often do surface for food when they are familiar with feeding routines, but will typically search the pond floor for food. So while floating pellet and flake is fine, a sinking pellet mix is also a good idea.

Breeding
Egg layers. Females tend to be larger than males. Breeding takes place in shallow water usually among plants where the green eggs can be deposited. Spawning usually occurs in summer, and as many as 300,000 eggs may be produced.

Life Span
Tench can live 15+ years in perfect conditions.
Photo is for illustration only - one supplied.

For more information on general fishkeeping and our shipping procedures click here.