Zope facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zope |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
The zope (scientific name: Ballerus ballerus), also known as the blue bream, is a type of cyprinid fish. This means it's part of the carp family. You can find this fish in rivers and lakes across Eurasia, which is a big landmass covering Europe and Asia.
About the Zope Fish
The zope fish looks a bit like other bream fish, but it's more streamlined. It has a body that's flatter from side to side, especially near its tail. Its mouth points upwards, which is unique! The zope has small eyes and tiny scales. Along its side, it has a special line called the lateral line, which helps it sense things in the water. This line has 67 to 75 scales.
Zope fish are usually a pale silvery color. Their fins are either light yellow or clear. Most zope fish are about 25 to 35 centimeters (10 to 14 inches) long. Some can grow up to 40 centimeters (16 inches). The heaviest zope ever recorded weighed about 940 grams (2 pounds). However, a very large one caught by a fisherman in Slovakia weighed 2.2 kilograms (4.8 pounds) and was 53 centimeters (21 inches) long!
During spring, when it's time to lay eggs, male zope fish grow small bumps called nuptial tubercules. These bumps appear above their anal fin.
Where the Zope Lives
The zope fish lives in many large rivers and lakes across Europe and Asia. You can find it in big rivers that flow into the Baltic Sea. However, it's not found in northern Sweden or Finland. It also lives in rivers like the Weser and Elbe, which flow into the North Sea.
You can also find zope in rivers that lead to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, like the Don River. It's common in the Volga and Ural rivers, which flow into the Caspian Sea, though it's rare in the Ural River. Its home stretches from the Netherlands in the west all the way to Russia and Georgia in the east.
Habitat and Life Cycle
Zope fish prefer large, slow-moving rivers and lakes that are rich in nutrients. These lakes are called eutrophic lakes. In these places, zope fish mostly eat tiny living things called plankton. They catch this food near the water's surface.
Zope fish lay their eggs in the spring, after the ice on the water melts. They like to lay eggs in shallow bays where there are lots of plants. The young fish stay in these plant-filled areas. Adult zope fish, however, move into open water to find food. Sometimes, they lay eggs on gravel in areas where the water moves gently.
These fish can live for more than 10 years. They start to have their own babies when they are about 3 to 4 years old. At this age, they are usually about 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. Spawning, or laying eggs, begins when the water temperature reaches about 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). This usually lasts for only one or two weeks.
Female zope fish lay eggs once a year. Male zope fish often protect small areas along the shoreline where they lay eggs. Some zope fish travel long distances to find the best places to lay their eggs. In certain areas, they might even swim into parts of the sea that are less salty to find food.
