Freshwater Bream (Abramis brama)

Freshwater Bream Abramis brama
Name	Freshwater Bream
Name Lat.	Abramis brama
Family	Minnows
Family lat.	Leuciscidae
Order	Carps
Order lat.	Cypriniformes
Origin	Europe, Asia
Habitat	Rivers, lakes
Diet	Omnivore
pH	6.5-7.5
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Group
Care Level	Easy
Reproduction	Substrate spawner
Breeding	Moderately difficult
Life Span	15-20 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	30-50 cm
Temperature	4-24 °C
Hardness	10-20 °dH
Aquarium	Ponds
US Units
Size	12"-20"
Temperature	39-75 °F
Hardness	178-356 ppm
Aquarium	Ponds

Distribution and habitat

The range of the bream is in Europe north of the Alps and the Pyrenees to the Urals and they also occur in Dvina, Volga, Terek as well as in the Aral Sea area, but are absent in Iceland, northern Scotland and northern Scandinavia. They live in slow-flowing rivers and nutrient-rich lakes, as well as in the brackish water of estuaries.

Maintenance

The pond should be furnished with pond, floating and oxygenating underwater plants (milfoil, waterweed, hornwort, etc.), large river pebbles and roots (hiding places), and a substrate of round-grained gravel and sand suitable for burrowing, and offer plenty of free swimming space.

No ammonia, ammonium or nitrite must be detectable in the water, and the nitrate value must not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter adapted to the water volume should not be missing.

Diet

In nature they feed mainly on animal food, such as insect larvae, small crustaceans, snails, worms, etc. and some vegetable food. The food supply consists of daphnia, mosquito larvae and tubifex, which is also easily accepted in frozen form, supplemented with commercially available dry food for pond fish (granules, pellets, food tablets) with high vegetable content (spirulina)

Feed only as much as will be eaten in a few minutes. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

They are calm, peaceful and sociable fish that do not show any aggressive or incompatible behavior. At least 5, but preferably more bream should be kept together

Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water quality and water temperature may be socialized.

Reproduction and breeding

The sexes are difficult to distinguish. The males have a clearly visible spawning rash during the breeding season.

Between April and June, when the water temperature is at least 15 °C, females spawn in the shallow shore zone, where the 150,000 to 300,000 eggs adhere to plants. After 3-10 days, the larvae hatch and remain immobile attached to aquatic plants until their yolk sac is consumed

Important

They like to burrow and their protruding mouth, which acts like a proboscis,  helps them feed.

If bream are overwintered in the pond, sufficient depth and oxygen supply (filter, oxygen dispenser, ice free holder) must be provided

At temperatures below 8-10 °C, the metabolism of the fish slows down and food is no longer accepted; feeding must be stopped accordingly. If the temperature drops further, they hibernate near the bottom. In spring, with rising temperatures, feeding can slowly be resumed. Feeding may also be necessary during prolonged warm periods in winter.

The well-being of the fish should be monitored regularly. A regular partial water change, according to the pond size is recommended, even if the pollutant load has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the pond

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: petdata; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); RIEHL & BAENSCH (2006): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 3, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF