Vendace fish: description and where it is found, bony or not, types and value
Vendace is a very popular fish among consumers. It is often used to prepare low-calorie meals, making it useful for those trying to lose weight or maintain a he althy lifestyle. Other names for vendace are ripus and kilets. Consider the description and features of the life of this fish, as well as the nuances of fishing and its gastronomic value.
Description of the fish
Kilets is a freshwater representative of the whitefish family. Usually it grows only up to fifteen to twenty centimeters in length. Vendace is a fish that lives in deep lakes with a clay bottom and cold water temperature. It is usually found in northern waters.
What she looks like
The body shape of this fish is similar to the herring, and it is easy to confuse them by throwing a cursory glance at it. The vendace has a strongly laterally compressed body. However, its defining feature is that the lower jaw protrudes further than the upper jaw and has a characteristic depression.
The body of the ripus is covered with large scales. Its lateral line is closer to the dorsal part, which appears greyish blue. The sides of the fish are silvery and its underside is white. The dorsal and caudal fins are grey, while all other fins are white.
Kiltsy usually grow up to fifteen to twenty centimeters in length, although some reach 33 centimeters. The weight of these fish usually ranges from one hundred to one hundred and eighty grams, although some species weigh up to three hundred grams, but in Russia such giant specimens are rare.
Habitat
The vendace especially likes deep places with clay or sandy bottoms, but avoids shallow waters and warm waters.
It is found in Finland, Scandinavia, Germany, the European part of Russia and Belarus. Feeds on tiny crustaceans such as daphnia and cyclops.
Reepus prefers to live in cool northern waters. In Russia, fishermen are known in Onega, Peipsi and Pskov lakes. Also found in the Gulf of Finland and B altic waters.
The whooping cough is considered the main threat to the keel in its natural habitat, as it eats the young and eggs of this fish. Despite their diminutive size, the ripus is considered a valuable asset to the fishing industry.
What does it eat
The main food of vendace throughout the year consists of small crustaceans such as daphnia, cyclops and others. During the day, these crustaceans stay close to the bottom of the reservoir, so the vendace swim there.However, at night, the diet of the Kielts move to shallow water near the coastlines, followed by flocks of vendace.
The diet of vendace is also diversified by worms and insect larvae. During the summer months, it feeds on insects that fall into the water; this happens especially often where they swarm over the water in large numbers. The stomachs of these fish at this time become densely packed with Maybugs and various flies.
Reproduction and spawning
In terms of lifestyle, Kilets is similar to other members of his family. This is a peaceful creature that lives in large flocks, and feeds mainly on small animal food that it finds in the water. Its growth rate is slow, usually taking six years to reach sexual maturity. However, the Pereslavl variety is considered an exception, since it is able to breed already after reaching two or three years.
Spawning occurs from late autumn to early winter and lasts only a couple of weeks. At this time, fish gather in large groups and stay in shallow areas with sandy or silty substrate, choosing underwater hills and slopes.
Spawning usually occurs at night. Depending on its size, the female keel is able to lay from seven to fifteen thousand eggs, the diameter of which is about 1.5 mm. These eggs hatch in the spring, but most of them are eaten by various types of fish, such as whooping cough and perch, which are found in the same reservoir.
Vendace spend most of their time swimming in a pond in search of food. During the early autumn months, they migrate to the upper reaches of rivers and lakes to lay their eggs before the onset of winter.
Vendace species
There are four types of ripus that differ in physical characteristics such as appearance and size.
- Siberian. It is found in the northern regions from the White Sea to the Alaska Peninsula. This semi-anadromous variety is a very valuable catch for anglers. It reaches up to thirty-five centimeters in length and usually weighs up to a thousand grams.
- European. This species lives mainly in lakes such as Ladoga, Pskov and Chudskoe. There is it in Finland and in the north of the European part of Russia. In appearance, it resembles a herring, differing in a narrow and elongated body with a protruding abdomen. Its scales are large, loose. The back of the fish is painted grayish-blue with a white underside and silvery sides. It reaches thirty centimeters in length and weighs about 0.3 kg.
- Pereslavskaya. This is a subspecies of the European variety, found only in the freshwater lake Pleshchevo. This is an endangered species listed in the Red Book, and its capture is prohibited. The Pereslavl Kilets prefers cool, oxygen-rich waters and reaches thirty-five centimeters in length with an average weight of 0.3 kg.
- Belomorskaya. This is the most common variety. It is found in the waters of the White Sea basin. This is the smallest type of ripus. This keel has a slender body, a convex belly and a flat back. On the head are miniature eyes and an upwardly directed mouth, while the upper part of the jaw is shorter than the lower. It has large scales that are loosely attached to the body. The upper part of the fish is a grayish-blue hue, while the sides are silvery, and the underside of the carcass is almost white. The dorsal and caudal fins are dark in color, the rest of the fins are gray. Members of this species are capable of growing up to a maximum of 0.25 m in length, but the typical size found in catches is usually between fourteen and seventeen centimeters. The average weight is fifty grams, sometimes individuals reach one hundred and fifty grams, but these are rare. Fish that live in lakes tend to be smaller than those found in rivers.
Fishing Features
Fishermen claim that catching White Sea vendace is a pleasant experience. This fish is usually caught using float and bottom gear, as well as winter and summer jigging gear.
Kilets is usually found far from the coast and at great depths. Therefore, anglers are advised to use a float or "running lure" to catch it. This type of fish is not particularly shy, but using too heavy tackle will still be counterproductive.
What a useful vendace
Kielce is a freshwater species that boasts an abundance of omega-3 acids in its nutritious fat. This is because ripus consumes not phytoplankton, but small crustaceans.
It is important to remember that Omega-3s are not synthesized by the body, so they must be obtained from food.Consuming omega-3 foods provides many he alth benefits. For example, they help improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system by lowering blood cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. In addition, they help strengthen the immune system, improve brain function, reduce the risk of depression and Alzheimer's disease, improve vision and reduce inflammation in the body.
The omega-3s in keel meat are not as long-lasting as those in marine fillets, but proper freezing can help with this. If everything is done according to the freezing technology, then the fish will retain its useful qualities for a long period.
Vendace contains other useful ingredients, including:
- protein that is easily digested and processed by the body;
- vitamin PP, which helps in biochemical reactions;
- and histidine, which is vital for cell growth.
Furthermore, fish meat provides the body with a wide range of minerals, such as:
- sulfur;
- molybdenum;
- chlorine;
- fluorine;
- zinc;
- chrome;
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- phosphorus and others.
Vendace is considered a he althy food option due to its low calorie content - only 43-85 calories per hundred grams of product. In addition, it has significantly fewer bones than other freshwater species; only one tenth of the product consists of bones. Thanks to this, ripusa is especially pleasant to eat smoked, s alted and dried.
Ripusa is prepared in various ways. They are enjoyed both s alted and smoked. Many people like kilets in tomato sauce and marinated. In addition, fish is often fried with sour cream sauce.
Kilec is the main ingredient of a traditional Finnish treat, which is a pie made from unleavened fried dough.
To prepare a delicious dish, it is important to properly prepare the fish - it should be washed and skinned, and then drained before cooking according to one's own preferences.
Ripus pickling is a widely practiced cooking method. First, the fish is boiled, then allowed to cool before adding the dressing of vinegar, bay leaf and finely chopped horseradish, as well as s alt. The fish is then sprinkled with dill and spices before being left to "brew" for several days. As soon as this process is completed, a weight should be placed on top of the dish and left for 14 days for further pickling. This dish makes a great addition to any meal for a special occasion.
The fried ripus is very tasty, and the soup made from this fish is rich. There are no contraindications for which vendace should not be eaten, except in cases where there is an allergy to seafood.
