Ruff fish: what it looks like and where it lives, what it eats, size and lifestyle

Common ruff is a delicious river fish with an aesthetically pleasing appearance that makes it a desirable prey for anglers. Also, some fish farms are happy to breed ruffs. For a better understanding of the characteristics and way of life of this fish, we will look at the habitat and habits of the ruff, as well as its diet and some of its popular species.

What a fish looks like

The features of the river ruff are so unique that it is difficult to confuse it with other types of fish. It has a large head, light pink eyes, and a mouth full of tiny teeth. Its body is thick, cylindrical, and slimy to the touch.It has wide, spiked gill covers, and small ctenoid scales complete its appearance.

The back of the fish is gray-green, with spots and dots, while the sides are more yellowish. The coloration of the underside of the body varies from light gray to white, depending on the environment. Fish living in sandy areas will be lighter in color than those living in more muddy ponds.

The average adult size is ten centimeters, although some can grow up to twelve centimeters. Usually they are quite small, weighing only 13-26 grams, but there are also larger specimens up to twenty centimeters long and weighing one hundred grams.

Habitat

Common ruff is the most common of the 4 species of its kind. It lives in many areas, including northern and eastern France, eastern England, the rivers around the B altic Sea, the rivers of the central European and eastern European regions, and northern Asia up to the basin of the Kolyma River and the Trans-Urals.

Features of life

Ruffs lead a modest existence. They are capable of living at various depths, with most occurring close to the seafloor, but they can also be spotted at or near the surface and in intermediate waters.

Ruffs usually live in water bodies, which are distinguished by calmness and a slight presence of a person near them. They prefer areas with soft bottoms and no aquatic vegetation, as their main food source is usually present there. Ruffs also settle in shaded areas of the reservoir, because they are ideally adapted to low light levels.

How long does a ruff live

Scientists can determine the age of these members by the number of growth lines on their scales, and sometimes by counting levels in otoliths. Females of this species live up to 11 years, while males live no more than 7 years.They become sexually mature at the age of 2-3 years, when their size is 10-12 centimeters.

What does he eat

The common ruffe mainly consumes crustaceans, but it also actively preys on insects and larvae. In the spring, this fish will even begin to consume other ruffs. Often this fish consumes the eggs of other fish species, which leads to a decrease in the population. Ruff is not picky about food - both juvenile fish and fry look equally attractive to him. In addition, they feed on benthic organisms living at the bottom of water bodies.

Reproduction

Ruff spawning begins in mid or late April, when the water temperature has risen to 6 degrees Celsius and above. The spawning process takes place in several portions, with each batch containing from ten to two hundred thousand eggs.

For spawning, females prefer deep waters near river mouths or in areas of lakes with higher oxygen concentrations and cooler temperatures.Spawning takes place until mid-June and fish flock to it, usually at night. During this period, the fish are quite lively and make a lot of noise.

Ruff caviar is sticky to the surface and has a pudding-like consistency. It is usually attached to rocks or some kind of aquatic vegetation. The eggs take about two to three weeks to hatch and once hatched, the fry stay close to the same area for the rest of the summer.

Natural Enemies

Other bottom-dwelling fish such as perch, large roach, burbot, bream, eel and smelt are common competitors to the common ruffe, both in Asia and Europe.

Perch is considered the main competitor of the ruff because their diet is identical. Eels, salmon, burbot and catfish feed on ruffs. Also, these fish have had cases of cannibalism.

Various species of herons, cormorants and smaller birds actively prey on ruffs and their offspring.

How to catch a ruff

Fishing this fish is an exhilarating experience. If the fisherman knows where to find it, then he will be able to catch a large number of fish. Knowing the perfect spot to find ruff is essential to successful fishing.

Ruff fishing is practiced all year round, but the most successful fishing is usually observed in the autumn, when these fish form large groups around certain depressions on the bottom. With some experience, one piece of bait is enough to hook several ruffs. If after ten or fifteen minutes there was no bite, then most likely there are no fish in this place, and it's time to move on.

The most effective way to catch a ruff is with a rod set so that the lure is close to the seabed. It is preferable to use earthworms that have been slightly flattened as bait, but these fish will also take other baits.This type of fishing is relatively easy for beginners, and experienced anglers are sometimes not interested in catching this "common" fish, as they strive for a more valuable catch.

The best time for catching ruff is spring, autumn and early winter, because during this period it is especially hungry and will take any bait.

In summer, fish are caught in the morning and in the evening, and night fishing will be possible even without bait. For winter fishing, it is proposed to switch to mosquito larvae as bait. As you know, ruff is very voracious.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionWhen removing the hook, care must be taken not to prick, as when a fish senses danger, it exposes spines that can cause an unpleasant wound.

Gastronomic value

Ruff is considered a low-calorie food product, high in easily digestible protein and nutrients useful for the body, such as vitamins A, E, PP, amino acids, molybdenum, phosphorus, chromium and fluorine. One hundred grams of the product contains 88 calories.

Ruff fillet is a fairly nutritious food, rich in protein and some important nutrients. Here are some characteristics of the gastronomic value of 100 grams of ruff fish fillet (average values):

1. Proteins: 19g
2. Fat: 3g
3. Carbs: 0g
4. Calories: 90 kcal.
5. Cholesterol: 63 mg.
6. Omega-3 fatty acids: 0.3g
7. Vitamin B12: 2.5 mcg.
8. Vitamin D: 8.5 mcg.
9. Iron: 0.5 mg.
10. Phosphorus: 190 mg.

Proteins are the main nutritional component of ruff fillet, and it is also rich in vitamins B12 and D, which are important for bone and nervous system he alth. The omega-3 fatty acids in the ruff are also good for heart and vascular he alth.

The taste of fish is pleasant and somewhat cloying. Cooking methods include frying, baking, stewing and boiling. Ruff-based fish soup is known to be an amazing dish.

Gutting a fish and then covering it with a layer of coarse s alt on top of the carcass is the usual way of s alting. Subsequent rows of fish are stacked in an identical way. After 3-5 days, the carcasses are removed and soaked in water for several hours to remove excess s alt. After that, the fish should be dried in the shade for 5-7 days.

Recommendations for breeding

This fish is not commercially farmed. However, some hobbyists may want to create a pond in their area in which they can keep ruffs.

Tap water is suitable for breeding ruffs, but it must be purified and prepared. Special tools are purchased to turn unusable water into something suitable for a backyard pond.

It is not allowed to bring fish into the pond immediately after filling it with water. The first step is to install the plants and wait until a suitable microclimate and sediment layer has formed, which can take up to one month.After that, the water must be carefully drained without destroying the sediment, and replaced with clean water. Once some time has passed, then it's time to put the fish in.

Plants not only fill the pond with oxygen, but also provide it with essential nutrients. In addition, they are often a food source for fish in the pond.

The pond will be beautified and its fish ecosystem improved with water lilies, water hyacinths, water mint and other plants. To prevent the area from becoming overgrown with vegetation too quickly, special bags filled with gravel are used to plant the plants.

Control of the quality, composition, hardness and acidity of water is essential when breeding fish in the country. These characteristics are modified with additives available in stores. It is also recommended to install an aerator, especially during the winter months, to prevent the high mortality rate due to lack of oxygen, as seen in natural habitats.In addition, it is important to provide ruffs with specialized food.

Types of ruffs

Ruff fish is tasty and attractive, and different types are available:

1. Donskoy is a fish that has a pronounced wedge-shaped head with an elongated snout, the underside is white, while the back is usually light yellow. One copy weighs up to 200 grams and reaches 18-20 centimeters in length. Unfortunately, this species is endangered and listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.
2. Balonie - reaches a length of 17-18 centimeters and a weight of 40-50 grams, while its life expectancy is up to 6 years. It has a tall body with a hump, a short flattened snout, two spines on each operculum, and a brindle grey-yellow color.
3. Striped. Flanks are olive-yellow with 3-4 spots or stripes. It has a long snout, retractable mouth and large eyes. This fish reaches a length of 30 centimeters and weighs up to 250 grams.
4. The Black Sea ruff has only one thing in common with the usual look - sharp spikes. It is a carnivorous sea creature, with a huge mouth and a long lower jaw.

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