©Andi Hartl

Weather loach

D-Schlammpeitzger; GB-Weather loach, weatherfish; DK-Dyndsmerling; PL-Piskorz; LT-Vijūnas; LV-Pīkste; EST-Vingerjas; RU-Обыкновенный вьюн; FIN-Mutakala; S-Slampiskare

Characters

1) Mouth opening small and inferior with 3 pairs of barbels on maxilla and 2 pairs of barbels on lower ja.
2) Nasal opening elongated like a tube.
3) Erectable, two-pointed spine under each eye.
●) Body elongated and round.
●) Prominent stripes on back and sides, abdomen lighter.
Often 15 to 20 cm, max. 27 cm length.

Similar species

Spined loach - only 3 pairs of barbels; a row of dark rectangles on flank, but never a continuous broad black band on flank.

Stone loach - only 3 pairs of barbels; no erectable two-pointed spine below eye.

Biology

Nocturnal bottom living fish of smaller standing or slow-flowing waters with dense vegetation and soft, muddy grounds. If the water body dries out, they are able to burry themselves in the ground and endure like this over some time.

Diet

They feed on bottom living small invertebrates, mainly on snails.

Importance

Used as bait fish, of no commercial importance as food fish.

Endangerment

Loss of habitat due to drainage of marsh land and regulation of water bodies account for strong decline of stocks.