Abramis brama
The bream, sometimes called the bronze bream, is found in Europe north of the Alps and Pyrenees, as well as in the Balkans. It is found as far east as the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea and the Aral Sea. The common bream lives in ponds, lakes and canals, as well as in rivers with a weak current. Adults usually live in calm and slow-flowing waters, where they move in large flocks.
The Abramis brama is a commercial fish, it is very tasty, its catching is very exciting, and catching it is a dream for many anglers. These fish are caught with bottom tackle and float tackle. Particularly popular is fishing for bream with a feeder, which makes it possible to catch these fish at almost any water body with standing water or with a current. This angling is not only fun, but also very effective, just choose the right fishing location and bait, and the result is not forced to wait.
Abramis brama has a tall flattened body with a silver coloring. The head and eyes are small. The dorsal fin is elongated and narrow, making the fish appear even larger. The tail plumage is asymmetrical - the lower blade is larger and longer than the upper. The tail fin has 19 rays. The fins are darker in adults. The base of the anal fin is twice as long as the dorsal fin. In mature males, white growths appear on the gill lids, and during spawning small holes are visible in them. As the fish matures the colouration changes and becomes darker with a golden hue. The bream is usually 30-55 cm in length, although a few specimens of 75 cm have been recorded. The fish usually weighs between 2 and 4 kg.
The Abramis brama is a gregarious and timid fish. The bream needs plenty of free space for swimming. An aquarium of at least 300 liters is therefore required to house several bream. Coarse-grained river sand can be used as substrate. Around the perimeter of the aquarium can be planted stiff-leaved shrubs and in the corners to arrange a few large flat stones.
Water parameters: temperature 10-24° C, hardness dH 5-18°, pH 7,0-7,5. Requires filtration, aeration and a weekly change of ¼ of the aquarium water with fresh.
The Abramis bramadiet consists mainly of insect larvae, crustaceans and molluscs that they seek out in the mud. The bigger fish also like to eat small fish. The bream takes food only from the bottom. They are fed twice a day, morning and evening.
Reproduction
The Abramis brama reaches maturity at the age of 7-10 years, although it may spawn much earlier. Spawning takes place from mid-May to mid-June when water temperatures reach 15° C. The female lays eggs, 1.6-2 mm in size, in a hole dug in the substratum in shallow water. The male immediately fertilizes the eggs. The parents do not take care of the eggs and swim away immediately. Larvae hatch out in 1-2 weeks, depending on water temperature.
Life expectancy of the Abramis brama is sometimes 20-25 years, depending on its environment and water quality.
