The body of the bleak is more elongated than most carp, and resembles a herring. The maximum length is about 25 cm and the maximum weight about 100 g.
The bleak occurs in lakes and waterways in Central and Northern Europe. Found in Scandinavia, in Norway, however, only near the border with Sweden in the south. Also goes out into the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea. The tench eats small molluscs, insect larvae, worms, small crustaceans and plant waste.
Spawns in April, May to June in shallow water with a rocky bottom. The bleak becomes sexually mature after 3 years and lives for around 10 years.
Mainly as bait fish, although it is also eaten in some places. A silver-colored pigment is made from the scales of the louse to treat artificial pearls with. However, the so-called roe comes from the whitefish.
