Fish I.D.

[2dogs2000]

Out on a ramble in the summer I met some lads fishing with their nets and they were very excited about this fish they had caught. Even asking me to take a photo of it. The cool box is about 30cms long. The fish was caught in a stream in Northamptonshire. Nothing else I can tell you except they were going to put it back in the water later.

[KeenTeen17]

looks like a carp to me

[tcvarlh]

could be a Roach (Rutilus rutilus) but as the shot is topside it is difficult to truly say. The orange fins indicate Roach but how deep bodied was the fish? Roach are so common, however, there are at least 5 other fish that have a similar aspect when viewed from above and the Cyprinidae are a huge family. What sort of stream/river was it ? I can state tho' it is not one of the salmonidae as it has no adipose fin. Good size for a roach too, not the biggest but...

[Phoebe]

As an ex-Koi keeper, it does look like a Koi Carp (a mongrel not a true colour) to me but cannot be sure again because of the aspect of the photo. The very long dorsal fin is classic of Koi but I don't know about river fish. I know a Roach has a short more pointed dorsal fin.

[Lancashire Lad]

Dorsal fin is too short for a Carp.
Looks more like a Chub to me - red pelvic fins, blackish edge to caudal fin, whitish lip (just visible in top left hand of upper photo).

Regards
Mike.

[Phoebe]

Mike, it looks to me like the dorsal fin is almost the length of the fish, it's very long, I don't think it is Chub.

Edit: oops looking at the other photo, the dorsal fin does look short, soz Mike don't know what to think now, but the colours are fabulous I would have liked to examine that myself

Edit again. I've changed my mind, looking at the two pictures the dorsal fin is visible as long in the close up because it is covering the dark marking on the left side. So comparing the two I still think Koi. I do know that people have put Koi into the river system.

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by Phoebe

Mike, it looks to me like the dorsal fin is almost the length of the fish, it's very long, I don't think it is Chub.

I think you are misinterpreting the photos.

The front edge of the dorsal fin is effctively in line with the rear edge of the pelvic fins in each photo (imagine a line up or down from the rear of the red fin in each pic, and you will see the front edge of the dorsal fin). You can clearly see that the fin does not extend forward of that line, because the scales are fully visible going across the top of the fishes back.

The rear edge of the dorsal fin fortuitously has a grey "blob" appearing on the pics. The fin is not held erect, so it seems slightly longer in each pic.

Regards
Mike.

EDIT - Missed your last post while I was typing.

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by Phoebe

...Edit again. I've changed my mind, looking at the two pictures the dorsal fin is visible as long in the close up because it is covering the dark marking on the left side...

I think you are reading the water line/shadow as part of the fin.

I've added some arrows & text which if you compare with the original photo, you can see that the fin is in fact quite short. It would be about three times the length of this for a Carp. (inc. Koi).



Regards
Mike.

[coasty]

Its a chub,, Scale definition and shape is very typical. Body is to fat for a roach
and shape of head is just right for a chub.

Also colour and shape of pectoral fins is spot on

Chub 100%

[Dogghound]

Yes without doubt this is a chub Leuciscus cephalus. I hope they did put it back as they are very boney fish and not suitable for eating. They give a great fight though especially when they get bigger.