Author: (Heckel, 1843)
FBname: Belica
Comments: Inhabits lowland riverine habitats especially oxbows and other water bodies only connected to rivers during floods.  Often encountered in ponds, steppe lakes and small water bodies not connected to rivers (Ref. 59043).  Occurs in large schools which are most numerous in autumn.  Found between weeds in shallow pools and creeks, shallow lakes, peat and clay excavations and canals.  It is exposed to the stormy flow of water (in spring, autumn and winter), but usually choose quite places like small bays, plots behind bottom stones extending out of water and concrete foundations of bridges.  In autumn, the schools of fish keep to the surface and rarely go to the pelagic zone.  Towards winter, the schools break up and the number of fish per unit of river square decreases rapidly (Ref. 27674); they spend the winter in deeper waters (Ref. 41592).  Feeds on phytoplankton and zooplankton and on flying insects (Ref. 27368).  Spawns among vegetation (Ref. 30578).  Aquarium keeping:  at least 10 individuals; minimum aquarium size 100 cm; not recommended for home aquariums (Ref. 51539).  Scales were utilized for production of Essence d'Orient, which was used for coating artificial pearls.  Locally threatened due to draining of wetlands.  Reaches up to about 9 cm SL (Ref. 59043).