Common nase (Chondrostoma nasus)

The common nase has an elongated body, specially adapted for swimming in water currents. This type of fish has characteristic lips that are round, thick and firm, that is, adjustable to feed by scraping stones. Its back is dark green, the dorsal fin is gray, and the other fins are orange. It lives and develops in cold waters with strong currents. 

It favours rock bottoms, sand and small stones, which it tirelessly rolls over searching for food. It also likes bottoms covered with algae and grass, which are the basis of its diet. It also feeds on underwater worms, white worms, snails, and even eggs from other fish. 

The common nase reaches sexual maturity between the age of 3 and 4 when it reaches length of 15-17 cm. They spawn in spring (April and May) when water temperatures reach 6 °C to 8 °C. During this period, the common nase groups in schools in shallow sandy waters. Each female lays about 50000- 100000 eggs, which the male instantly fertilizes.

The incubation of eggs lasts for ten days. The average life expectancy of the common nase is 10-15 years. During this time, it can grow from 30 to 50 cm, weighing from 0.3 to 1.5 kg.