Fish, loach family
Weatherfish
- Maximum length
- 30cm
- Best water temperature
- 13–22 °C
- Water today (4.6 °C)
- Tolerates it, but slowed down
- Fishing districts near where it occurs
- 11
About the species Weatherfish
How to recognise it
A snake-like, laterally flattened body (up to about 30 cm) covered in mucus, with ten barbels around the mouth and dark lengthwise stripes on the sides.
Where it lives
Overgrown still waters and backwaters with a muddy bottom. It tolerates low oxygen and gulps air when oxygen runs short.
What it feeds on
Insect larvae, small crustaceans and molluscs from the mud.
Spawning
In spring in overgrown shallows.
Classification under the decree
Decree of the Ministry of the Environment of the SR no. 381/2018 Coll. on fisheries.
Classification
A native species of fish or lamprey (Section 13, paragraph 1 of the decree).
Closed season, minimum size and daily limit
What the Fisheries Act says about weatherfish. For guidance only; check it in the fishing regulations of the district.
Species protected all year
Section 10, paragraph 1, point i of the decreefishing prohibited
this species may not be fishedoutside this period
You must not keep a fish of this species. If you happen to catch one, return it to the water as gently as possible.
Summary of Act no. 216/2018 Coll. and Decree no. 381/2018 Coll. (as of 6 Nov 2026). It may be out of date or contain an error, and exceptions apply on some waters. The permit and the fishing regulations of the district are binding. The fishing law, rule by rule.
Water temperature and requirements
At what temperature the species is active and how well today's water suits it.
Tolerates it, but slowed downTypical water in Slovakia is 4.6 °C today. The species tolerates this temperature (4 to 25 °C), but the water is colder than the ideal 13 to 22 °C. Fish tend to be slower and pickier.
- tolerates 4 to 25 °C
- best 13 to 22 °C
- typical water today 4.6 °C
- Length
- up to 30 cm
- Oxygen
- Tolerates low oxygen
Sizes and the tolerated temperature range come from the FishBase database. We estimated the best temperature from that range, so it is only indicative. In a particular water, fish behave according to the weather, air pressure, oxygen and food.
Where it was recorded
Fishing districts around which a record of this species exists (GBIF).
- Štrkovisko Oširíd
- Štrkovisko u Janíčkov
- Štrkovisko Lúčky
- Morava č. 2
- Morava č. 5
- Štrkovisko na Židovkách
- Vysocký kanál
- SR Obloz
- Štrkovisko Trojuholník
- Štrkovisko Záhorská Ves
- Štrkovisko Štvorec
11 fishing districts in total. Show on map
Catches of Weatherfish
Approved catches by anglers on this portal.
Nobody has logged a catch of this species yet. Be the first; once approved it will appear here and on the leaderboard.
Similar species
Photo credits
- Weatherfish: Photo: Harka, Akos, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- European mudminnow: Photo: Vad víz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Spined loach: Photo: J.C. Harf (User Wiki-Harfus on de.wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Minimum sizes, protection periods and permitted fishing methods are set by the fishing regulations and the conditions of the specific fishing district. Check them before you fish.