Fish common minnow (minnow-belladonna): description, distribution

Among the huge variety of water divers there is one interesting small fish that lives in rivers, water bodies, aryks and marshes. This unpretentious fish is called a minnow, whose species differ in size and color. It can perfectly be conducted in muddy waters, in polluted ponds, in marshy lakes.

There are also common, Chinese, etc. among them. There are two forms: lake and river.

In this article, you will find more detailed information about this fish: description, features, location and habitat, etc.

Golian: description, photo

Small fish belongs to the family of cyprinids. In total, there are approximately 15 species of this fish.

The main feature of the minnow is its color - bright, especially during spawning. A beautiful iridescent rainbow skin of fish, covered with delicate small scales, and larger scales are found only on the midline of the back and belly.

Goljan is a fish, which, like a gorchanka and the upper reaches, is one of the smallest. Its dimensions are only about 10-15 centimeters in length, and the weight is about 100 g. The female is large in comparison with males. The latter have a more dull nose and a brighter color. In males, the nose and head are dotted with sharp warts.

Golian from other carp species is distinguished by a broader body, a number of pharyngeal teeth and small scales. Therefore this fish has its own genus - Phoxinus.

A distinctive feature of the minnows is an unusual diversity, which is why the names of belladonna and buffoons are more suitable for her. The back is greenish with burgundy overflows, less often bluish, with a dark strip along the middle of the back. Boka yellowish-green with golden shine, moving closer to the belly in silvery. The belly from the lips to the tail is reddish, and sometimes white (the goljany of the Sviyaga River). Yellowish fins are bordered in black, and their eyes are silvery with yellow.

It is difficult to accurately describe this fish in color, especially since its coloring can vary depending on the season and the habitat. The most beautiful bright golyanov can be observed during their spawning.

In eastern Russia, another species of such fish is found - relatively large minnows covered with large scales. They differ in their way of life and appearance (body shape and more stupid muzzle).

In general, the color of the minnows can vary quite strongly depending on the habitat and air temperature. In its coloring, all the subspecies of this fish are different, for example, an ordinary minnow has a lateral line, reaching only to the middle of the trunk, which then gradually disappears.

Fish names

Other names of golyan - goltschik, naked, goliachka, golok, variegated, motley, motley. They reflect the external feature of the minnow - the abdomen of the fish has no scales and it has a variegated color. And in fact, many golyanov spots of varying sizes are scattered on a greenish with a golden tint background of the lateral part of the trunk.

Another name very suitable for this fish is the bell-belly, because some of them have bright beautiful fins.

There are minnows and with such incomprehensible names: soldier, Circassian, Cossack. The shape of these fish is spindle-shaped, the head relatively large. Their length is not more than 12 centimeters.

Spread

Goljan is a fish widely distributed throughout the European part of Russia, and it is also found in Siberia (in Yakutia) to the Yenisei River basin. In Russia, this fish, often found in its fresh water bodies, but in the south it is slightly less than in the northern reservoirs.

There are many fish in the mountain rivers of the Caucasus, in the Trans-Ural region, in the Crimea, in the lakes of Altai. Also they are in small lakes near the villages, but due to the small size of the minnow and because of the muddy water they are difficult to see.

In addition to the river golyan, there is also a lake, inhabiting the vegetation in the coastal zone, where it finds its food. And he can dwell even in the brown water of the swamp, where there is practically no oxygen. The lake minnow is found in lakes that flow into the Arctic Ocean and in numerous lakes associated with the Kama, Volga, Dnieper, Vyatka, Amur and Oka.

Golyan Habitat

Goat fishes are freshwater fish. And they give preference to cool water, so they mostly live in rivers with a stony bottom and a strong current. Warm water and a calm current these fish do not like, in connection with which they are rarely found in large lakes and rivers, where the water is calmer.

More accurate information about their distribution for today is not revealed until the end, since the minnows are very small. However, given that in many rivers they occur in large numbers, we can conclude that this fish lives almost everywhere.

Basically, ordinary minnows live in brooks, as well as in small rivers, and they reach almost the source, where other species of fish are not observed. In mountainous areas, minnows can rise in rivers to considerable heights - up to several hundred meters. For example, they can often be seen in the reservoirs of the Ural Mountains.

Most of the time these fish live in flocks on the rocky slopes. And these flocks can contain up to several thousand golyanov, which are arranged in rows one above the other. The largest individuals, as a rule, keep to the bottom closer, and small ones - higher.

The largest flocks of fish are found off the coast, because the current is weaker. They feed on a mill "bead" falling into the water, and their traditional diet is small worms, crustaceans, midges, mosquitoes, etc. They can also eat fish fry, a variety of carrion, and a little less often algae.

On the period of spawning

One by one the minnows are very rare. The flocks are especially numerous during the breeding season. In Russia this season falls on May-June in river fishes. At lake golyan spawning occurs later - the beginning or the middle of July.

Spawning in golyanov is peculiar, according to observers. Males, gathered in packs, pursue fewer females. One of the females is surrounded by several males and keeps closer to it. The strongest two males squeeze it on the sides, after which eggs emerge from the body of the female, immediately fertilized. Then these males are replaced by others, and this continues until the female is left without eggs. During the spawning period in males fins are painted in surprisingly bright colors. The main enemies of the fry are the larvae of mosquitoes. From them the fish find shelter in gravel or sand. Sexual maturity of these fish occurs approximately in the second or third year.

Gorlya's companions

Usually in the fall the minnow disappears altogether, and in winter it burrows into mud or shelters under the roots of underwater plants and trees. But the practice of anglers has shown that in winter they are found in the water. It should be noted for fishermen that the minnow in winter avoids very small places, as well as the deepest ones.

These small fish are preferred by shallow rivers with cold clear water, with a pebble, rocky or sandy bottom. Often they can be seen in streams. Usually in such places with them are found and trout. Another minnow is a frequent companion of juvenile salmonids. As noted above, these fish always gather in large flocks. Wherever this fish is found, there are always a lot of them, which explains their omnivorousness. And they eat all edible, that is in the water.

Golan, like a goldfish, can perfectly live in any aquarium.

Amur minnow

This species of minnow is larger in size than others. Its dimensions reach a length of up to 24 centimeters. This fish is one of the most massive freshwater fish living in cold, fast-flowing rivers of semi-mountain type. Inhabits the Amur minnow in places with a stony bottom and a slightly slowed flow, as well as in places where there is pebbles on the bottom and covered with vegetation.

Serves this fish food for many carnivorous fish. These are taimen, lenok, grayling and pike.

Quite widely this species is widespread in the Amur River basin. Also, the Amur minnow in Primorye lives in the basin of the Razdolnaya River and in the rivers of the slope of the Sikhote-Alin (eastern side).

Fishing

Golan does not constitute an object of serious fishing. Due to the fact that these fish are very small, lovers of fishing do not pay much attention to it. For the most part, this fish is used as an attachment for catching predatory fish. They are trotting on them, pike, burbot, perch and chub.

Despite all of the above, there are anglers who go fishing just behind the minnow. They prefer to catch such a small fish to experience the pleasure of the process of catching. This applies just to the case when fishing is part of an active holiday, and not part of the profit.

For catching a minnow, it is better to use a float fishing rod. Golan does not bite at night, but it is perfectly caught in the morning and during the day. What does the minnow are pecking at? He bites well on worms, maggots and houseflies.

Often this fish is caught nets or cobblers.

Conclusion

It is fairly widespread in almost all freshwater reservoirs, and in some places a very large goat - a non-commercial fish.

As is known, for a person as a food, this fish is of little use due to the fact that the meat of the minnow has a bitter taste. Fish for feeding pigs and dogs are well used. The status of its guard is low.