78 GOLDFISH VARIETIES AND 
THE GOLDEN TENCH 
Tinca aureus. 
As a showy fish of golden orange hue the Golden Tench is con- 
sidered second only to the goldfish itself. Covered with exceedingly fine 
scales and dotted with black it presents by reflected light an irridescent 
<< 
Fic. 62. THe Tencn (Young) 
effect, comparable to that of an opal. By transmitted light they are 
sufficiently translucent to show the skeleton and internal organs. Al- 
though timid they become quite tame and will live on any kind of fish- 
food. Harmless to other fishes and otherwise thoroughly desirable. 
Tenches should be bred in open ponds with mud bottoms. 
The Green Tench is the ancestor of the Golden Tench and differs 
principally in coloring, its color being of a bottle-green character. 
“Tench-green” is a popularly recognized shade of color in some parts 
of Europe. Tenches are liberally supplied with protective slime and it is 
believed by some that fishes injured by accident search out a tench to rub 
the injured part against. For this reason it has been known as the 
“Doctor Fish.” 
AS 
ye 
AR VeeaNaig OS 
Ie OE ae 
f RAR ae 
ot 
Fic. 63. THe Sucker (Young) 
