Tench ( tinca tinca
Between 2 - 5  cm
The tench (Tinca tinca) is a freshwater fish native to the UK and widely found in ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers. Recognizable by its olive-green, stocky body and small, rounded fins, the tench typically grows to 20–30 cm, though larger specimens can exceed 60 cm. It has small, red eyes and a pair of barbels (whisker-like structures) at the corners of its mouth, which help it forage on the bottom for food such as insects, worms, and plant material, they will accept most sinking pellets as well as live and frozen foods.
Tench thrive in still or sluggish waters with dense vegetation and muddy bottoms. Known for their hardiness, they are often active during warm summer months and are most commonly seen at dawn or dusk. Sometimes called the "doctor fish," tench were once believed to have healing properties due to the thick slime coating their bodies.