Common barbel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common barbel |
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The common barbel (Barbus barbus) is a type of freshwater fish. It belongs to the Cyprinidae family, which includes carps and minnows. This fish is often just called "barbel" in Great Britain. Other countries use similar names, like barbeau in France. The name "barbel" comes from the four whisker-like feelers around its mouth. These feelers help the fish find food on the riverbed.
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Where Barbel Live
The common barbel is found naturally across northern and eastern Europe. Its range stretches from the Pyrénées and Alps to countries like Lithuania and Russia. It also lives in the northern Black Sea area. This fish can adapt well to new places. It has been introduced to rivers in Scotland, Morocco, and Italy.
Barbel prefer fast-flowing rivers with bottoms made of gravel or stone. These areas are sometimes called "barbel zones." However, they can also live in slower rivers. They have even been successfully placed in still waters like lakes. In some rivers, like the River Wye, you can see many barbel swimming together in large groups.
Barbel Life and Habits
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Adult barbel can grow quite large. They can reach up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) long and weigh about 12 kilograms (26 pounds). However, most barbel you find are smaller, usually between 50 and 100 centimeters long. They typically weigh between 1 and 3 kilograms. Adult barbel can live for more than 20 years.
Their bodies are well-suited for life in strong river currents. They have a sloped forehead and a flat underside. Their fins are positioned to help them stay close to the riverbed. This design helps them resist strong flows. Young barbel are usually grey and spotted. Adult fish are often dark brown, bronze, or grey. Their undersides are pale, and their fins can be reddish or orange. The lower part of their tail is rounded and a bit shorter than the pointed upper part.
Barbel are active fish and can travel far. They might move between 16 and 68 kilometers in a year. On average, they move about 26 to 139 meters each day. Adult barbel usually feed at night. They might also feed during the day in deeper water or near places where they can hide. Their mouths are on the underside of their heads. This helps them find food on the riverbed. They eat things like small crustaceans, insect larvae, and mollusks. They dig these out from the gravel and stones. What barbel eat changes as they grow from tiny fry to young fish and then to adults.
Barbel Reproduction
Male barbel become ready to breed when they are three to four years old. Females are ready later, at five to eight years old. They usually lay their eggs between May and late June. Groups of male barbel gather in shallow water to find mates. The females produce many eggs, between 8,000 and 12,000 eggs for every kilogram of their body weight.
The eggs are fertilized by the males as they are released. The females then bury the eggs in small holes they dig in the riverbed gravel. If there is too much fine sand in the water, it can harm the eggs and young fish. Barbel can lay eggs multiple times, especially in captivity. There is also evidence they can do this in wild rivers.
Barbel Parasites
Like many animals, barbel can have parasites. Some examples include tiny flatworms and other types of worms.
Barbel as Food
Historically, some people have noted that barbel eggs (roe) are not safe for humans to eat. They can cause an upset stomach. However, the fish meat itself can be eaten. Some old cookbooks even have recipes for cooking barbel. For example, Mrs Beeton suggested cooking them with port wine and herbs during the winter months.
Fishing for Barbel
The common barbel is a very popular fish for anglers (people who fish). Anglers love them because they are strong and put up a good fight. An old writer named Izaak Walton said that barbel are "lusty and a cunning fish." He noted they can even break a fishing line if they are big and try to hide.
Barbel fishing is especially popular in the UK. Fish weighing more than 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds) are considered very impressive. Famous barbel rivers in the UK include the Hampshire Avon and the River Wye. There are also fishing clubs in the UK that work to protect and promote barbel fishing.
It is important to protect barbel populations. While they are strong in some big rivers, local groups of barbel can be at risk. For example, in the River Wensum, the return of otters has affected the barbel. Otters can easily catch barbel in the shallow, clear water. This has caused the barbel population there to shrink.
How to Fish for Barbel
The best baits for catching barbel can change depending on where you are and the local conditions. In the UK, popular baits include canned luncheon meat, pellets made from fish meal, and maggots. In some areas, fishmeal pellets can make up a big part of the barbel's diet. In France, anglers often use natural baits like caddis larvae. These are small insect larvae found on river stones. In Poland, some people even catch them using fly-fishing.
Barbel are mostly river fish, even though they are sometimes put into still waters. They are not always the hardest fish to catch if the conditions are right. They are tough fish and will fight hard until they are in the landing net. However, they do not do well out of the water. It is very important to return them safely and quickly. A good practice is to hold the fish gently in the water until it is strong enough to swim away on its own.
The record for a barbel caught in the UK and Europe is 9.59 kilograms (21 pounds, 2 ounces). This fish was caught by Colin Smithson in the River Rother in 2019.
