Taimen fish: description and where it is found, what it eats, useful properties

Taimen fish, also known as Siberian salmon and water tiger, is one of the largest species of salmon fish. It is found in the fresh waters of Siberia, as well as in Alaska and the Sea of Japan. Taimen is famous for its taste and beneficial properties, such as high protein content, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. Let's take a closer look at the characteristics and beneficial properties of taimen fish, and also give several recipes for its preparation.

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Taimen is a species of fish belonging to the genus Taimen and the salmon family, and it is famous for being the largest representative of this family. Local natives give this fish special nicknames out of respect for it.

Appearance Features

The body of the common taimen is slender, but rather strong, and the scales are of a silvery hue, like most predatory fish. When looking at the head from above, it is easy to notice a lot of black spots of X-shaped or round shape. The head resembles that of a pike with a flattened top and bottom. The fish has a large mouth that stretches across the entire width of the muzzle and almost reaches the gills. Its lower and upper jaws are equipped with small, sharp, curved teeth growing in several rows.

Taimen has wide fins that allow him to move quickly and quickly change direction in the water. The dorsal and pectoral fins are grey, while the anal and caudal fins are red.

Young animals usually have transverse stripes along the body. The underside of the fish is usually pale, almost white, and the back and sides are dotted with spots. Their color ranges from greenish gray to brownish red, depending on their habitat.During the breeding season, there is a noticeable difference in coloration, but after the coloring returns to normal.

After six to seven years, the taimen reaches sexual maturity when it grows up to seventy centimeters in length and weighs up to four kilograms. When the fish get older, their size can inspire awe. Often, fishermen meet taimen almost 2 meters long and weighing up to 75-90 kilograms. Some sources even report cases of fishermen catching individuals almost three meters long, although such cases have not been observed recently.

Habitat

Taimen fish or Siberian salmon is an endemic species and lives in the waters of Russia and some Asian countries. It is common in the rivers of Siberia, Kamchatka, Chukotka and other northern regions of Russia. Large populations of this fish with reddish or pink flesh are found in the Ob, Yenisei, Lena and Amur rivers.

Taimen is also found on the Yamal Peninsula. Historically, they were in the Volga and its tributaries. In addition, it is easy to meet in the Selenga river basin in Mongolia and other nearby areas. Finally, it also lives in some tributaries of the Amur River in China.

Lifestyle

Common taimen is a species that lives in one body of water all its life. As a rule, it is found in rivers with clean water and plenty of oxygen. This fish loves low temperatures and moves to smaller water bodies during the summer months and large water bodies such as rivers or lakes during the winter. Unlike anadromous forms, the common taimen prefers coastal areas with deep holes nearby.

During the day, this aquatic creature seeks shady spots, and in the evenings it is easy to see in fast-moving waters. In the early morning, when the sun begins to rise, they feed on small fish in shallow areas, while making a lot of noise. As winter approaches, they tend to move down into deeper waters, where they remain until spring, occasionally surfacing to take a breath of fresh air.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionIt is said that common taimen can make loud sounds, similar to rumbling, which can be heard at a distance of up to thirty meters.

In the early summer months, the fish are especially active after spawning. When the water starts to warm up, they become less active due to the process of replacing teeth, which is uncomfortable. At the end of August, they regain their activity level and remain brisk until the first frost.

Ichthyologists have not yet conducted a thorough study of the movements of taimen in rivers. It is understood that mature fish leave their usual habitats to avoid competition with young fish, which begin to defend their own territories.

Taimen should be regarded as a particularly long-lived member of the salmon family due to its ability to reach up to fifty years of age in ideal living conditions and with sufficient food.

Interesting! Not so long ago, a specimen was discovered in the Yenisei River, whose age is estimated at least fifty-five years old.

Fishermen often caught specimens up to thirty years old, but experts believe that the typical age of these creatures is about twenty years.

As soon as spring comes, the taimen begin to move up the river, reaching small tributaries with a fast current to lay their eggs. Usually one male accompanies the female, but sometimes two or three join her. The female finds a spot about 5-10 meters long and lays her eggs there before the male fertilizes them; this process usually completes within twenty seconds.

You need to know that the female will carefully bury her eggs after they are fertilized.

After spawning, the common taimen stays in the spawning ground for about three weeks to protect their offspring.As a rule, the taimen living in cold waters breeds annually, and its eggs are large, up to 0.5-0.7 cm in diameter. After about a month, fry appear, although these terms depend on the temperature of the water. They stay in the hole for two more weeks before they can swim freely.

Individuals become sexually mature when they reach a certain weight. Females are ready to breed at a weight of up to two kilograms, and males at a weight of one kilogram, while their length is usually about 50-70 cm. In some cases, this takes longer, depending on the environment and food availability, it may up to 8 years.

What does it eat

Siberian taimen feed continuously throughout the year with a short break for spawning. After spawning is over, the taimen enters a period of increased activity called the zhora period, which is soon followed by a period of inactivity when summer arrives. Then there is another period of zhora, when the fish is preparing to stock up on nutrients.This is needed to survive the winter thanks to a thick layer of fat when food sources become scarce.

Taimen food sources vary depending on the type of water body. As a rule, in the first years of life they feed on small fish such as whitefish, carp and grayling, as well as invertebrates. As the taimen grows older, it begins to hunt the hatched young of other fish species and by the third year of life completely switches to a diet consisting only of fish.

Its diet consists of a variety of fish species such as whitefish, roach, perch, grayling and loach. In addition, the taimen also feeds on the offspring of their relatives. It has been known to prey on chicks, frogs, mice, squirrels, as well as waterfowl; there were even cases when bats were found in the stomach of a taimen.

Are there any enemies

Young taimen become the prey of other species of predatory fish and their own relatives.During spawning, when the Baikal taimen travels long distances, it often becomes a victim of bears. However, the greatest threat to the population is posed by human poachers, who cause great harm.

Value for people

Common taimen, which is also called the king fish, is known not only for its impressive appearance, but also for its deliciousness. Its flesh has a delicate flavor, as does its caviar. The color of the meat varies from white to pink and even reddish (depending on the diet).

Despite the restrictions placed on commercial fishing for this species, recreational and commercial fishing for taimen is still practiced in Russia and other countries.

You need to know that if you get a fishing permit (purchase a license), then it is allowed to catch taimen as soon as it reaches a size of about 70-80 cm. The same rule applies to specially designated fishing areas.

The rules say that the angler who caught this handsome man must release him back into the water, although it is allowed to take a picture with the prize catch. An exception can be made if the fish is seriously injured and will not survive in its natural habitat.

Useful and harmful properties

Taimen fish meat stands out for its beneficial properties due to its rich composition. 100 grams of fillet contains about 120 kilocalories, 20 grams of protein and 4 grams of fat, including Omega-3 and Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fish oil lowers blood cholesterol levels, improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system and immunity, and also has an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, meat contains B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B9, B12), as well as vitamin A and vitamin D.

Its fillet is a source of trace elements such as iodine, iron, zinc and selenium, necessary for the normal functioning of the body.

However, it should be borne in mind that taimen meat sometimes contains mercury, so it is recommended to limit its use for pregnant and lactating women, as well as children and people with impaired kidney function.

Taimen is a vulnerable species that is declining worldwide and has been listed in the Russian Red Book as in need of special protection. The IUCN reports that many river basins are experiencing significant declines in taimen. Intact populations are found in remote areas of the planet.

The biggest danger to the population of these fish is:

• sport fishing, both legal and unauthorized;
• water pollution;
• building artificial structures such as dams or roads;
• extraction of natural resources;
• fertilizers entering water sources;
• changing the composition of water due to global warming.

IUCN suggests using safe fishing methods such as single hooks, synthetic lures and holding fish in the water.

Recipes for cooking

Professional chefs usually prefer lightly s alted taimen meat for preparing a variety of cold appetizers and salads. Thermally processed meat retains all its useful elements.

For best results, frozen taimen fillet should be fried or boiled. In addition to appetizers and salads, this fish can be used with great success for cooking other dishes - for example, a pie or soup seasoned with bay leaves, spices and fresh herbs.

Offal such as heart, kidney, liver, ventricle and bladder will also be delicious cooked when fried until crispy golden brown. Boiled taimen goes well with baked potatoes and wild garlic salad.

Taimen steak in sour cream

Ingredients:

1. Taimen fish fillet – 2 pieces
2. Sour cream - 200 g.
3. Onion - 1 pc.
4. S alt and pepper to taste.
5. Vegetable oil - for frying.

How to cook:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
2. Cut the onion into rings and fry in vegetable oil until golden brown.
3. Remove the skin and bones from the fillet, cut into portions, s alt and pepper to taste.
4. Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan and fry the fish pieces until golden brown on both sides.
5. Put the fish on a baking sheet and brush each piece with sour cream.
6. Add fried onion on top.
7. Place the tray in the oven and bake the taimen fish steaks in sour cream for about 15-20 minutes.

When ready, you can serve it with a vegetable side dish or a fresh salad.

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