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Chub

Chub ©Jack Perks

Chub

The silvery chub can be seen gathering in large shoals in lowland rivers and streams. It is a member of the carp family and looks very similar to the dace, but is larger and has redder fins.

Scientific name

Squalius cephalus

When to see

January to December

Species information

Statistics

Length: 30-40cm
Weight: up to 4kg
Average Lifespan: 14-20 years
Common.

About

A medium-sized fish, the chub is a member of the carp family. It can sometimes be seen swimming near the surface of rivers and streams, often in large shoals. Omnivorous, chub feed on invertebrates, small fish, fish eggs, plants and seeds. Spawning takes place in spring and summer, during which time, the female distributes her eggs among gravel and vegetation.

How to identify

A slender fish, the chub is greenish-silver in colour with reddish, rounded fins. It is larger than the dace and has redder fins; it is more slender than the roach.

Distribution

Widespread in lowland England, but rarer in Wales and Scotland.

Did you know?

As they grow, chub become aggressive predators, eating fish, frogs and even small mammals.