Fun Bream Facts For Kids

Bream is a term that is used collectively for a large number of marine and freshwater fish that belong to different genera including Lepomis, Rhabdosargus, Gymnocranius, and Nemipterus. Although every fish of these genera are called bream and all of them belong to the class Actinopterygii, there is no relation between the fish species. The species cover a vast extent and they are present in various freshwater and saline habitats all over the world. The European bream species are the most commonly acknowledged species of bream. The common bream (Abramis brama) is taken to be the representative bream fish. They are a popular freshwater bream and are also known as the carp bream and bronze bream. Bluegills of Lepomis genera are also included as bream. In their juvenile stage, they inhabit backwaters and slowly move to main river channels as they grow. The sea bream which is consumed by humans have a fishy taste. To know more about the species continue reading these facts.

For similar content check out chimaera facts and milkfish facts.

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What type of animal is a bream?

Bream is a species of coastal and freshwater fish of different genera.

What class of animal does a bream belong to?

Different species of bream belong to different orders, families, and genera, but all these bony fishes collectively belong to the class Actinopterygii or the class of ray-finned and bony fishes.

How many bream are there in the world?

Estimating the total population of all bream species is a bit difficult as it includes a large variety of fish of numerous genera. Their population varies accordingly. However, most breams do not face any threat of extinction at present and are available in abundance. For example, the most popular freshwater bream called the common bream are present in large numbers throughout European rivers and lakes of its range. Another marine bream member of the Sparidae family, the sea bream or the gilt-head bream, also has a large population in the seas and oceans.

Where does a bream live?

In America bream species act as wonderful delicacies and Australia shelters many saltwater bream. Common bream are found mostly in the lakes and river systems of Europe, with some populations extending to central Asia. The European population extends to the north of the Alps and Pyrenees up to the Balkans. They are also found in the Black Sea, Caspian, and the Aral Sea. The silver bream that looks similar to the common bream are found in the United Kingdom. The gilt-head bream inhabits the North Atlantic Ocean or Mediterranean sea in Spain or Italy.

What is a bream habitat?

The habitat of the genera that are included as bream varies according to their locations. Some inhabit freshwater lakes and ponds, while others are found in the oceans. Common bream are freshwater bream that live in slow-moving medium-sized rivers, nutrient-rich ponds, and lakes, and in brackish estuaries. The lakes are generally covered with thick vegetation.

Who do bream live with?

Bream species live in groups. These schooling fish reside in shallow water near seagrass or sandy water beds and also travel in large groups.

How long does a bream live?

The lifespan of different fish varies according to their family. However, the black bream can stay alive for the longest span among all breams. They can live up to 29 years in the wild.

How do they reproduce?

Among the bream, the reproductive behavior of the common bream is widely relevant. The spawning season for these fish starts in April and lasts till June. The males form spawning territories and protect the females in the laying season. Sometimes females do not indulge in spawning throughout the year. They lay around 100,000-300,000 eggs that hatch after 3-12 days. The larvae or the young are identified by the typical flat body and silvery color. Spawning can take place almost on all types of surfaces.

What is their conservation status?

The populations of most of the genera of bream are not under any threat of extinction except a few. The common bream is a widespread fish throughout its range. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN Red List, they are regarded as a species of Least Concern as assessed last in January 2008. The fish does not possess any recognized threat as of yet.

What do bream look like?

They are typically deep-bodied narrow fish that is silver in color. The description of a common bream's appearance acts as an example for representing the general body features of most bream. They have a high-backed body that is compressed from the two lateral ends. The silver might turn bronze into older fish. For that reason, they are also referred to as bronze bream. The mouth looks a bit undershot. In clear water, its dark grey fins are clearly visible. Another type of unpopular fish, the silver bream (Blicca bjoorkna) appears very similar to the common bream and may be confused with the young individuals. They are distinguished by the difference in the number of scales dorsal fins and the lateral line. A reddish spot appears on the pectoral fins of the adult silver bream.

How cute are they?

The cuteness of these fish is relative. They are not typically aquarium fish, so their appearance does not matter much.

How do they communicate?

The bream communicates underwater by sound, scent, electrical impulses, and vision. Communication helps in navigation in water as well as during reproduction.

How big is a bream?

A length of a common bream ranges between 12-22 in (30-55 cm). It can reach the highest length of 30 in (75 cm).

How fast can a bream swim?

The swimming speed depends on the activity. They can gain speed when it is necessary otherwise move at their own speed. The average speed is not quantified.

How much does a bream weigh?

The usual weight of the common bream ranges between 4.4-8.8 lb (2-4 kg). The recorded weight of the fish is 20 lb (9 kg).

What are their male and female names of the species?

The male and the females do not have any specific names. All of them are together known as bream.

What would you call a baby bream?

A baby of the bream species will be referred to as fry.

What do they eat?

Bream is omnivorous feeding on both plants and animals. Common bream set out to search for prey in groups or shoals close to the bottoms. In the evening, the fish come near the shore in clear water to eat, while in the morning, feeding mainly occurs inside feeding pits. Their unique mouth structure facilitates feeding by helping them to dig in the surface soil. The common creatures that are generally included in its diet are tubifex worms, gastropods, chironomid larvae, and bivalves. They also eat plankton and water plants.

Are they poisonous?

Generally, the individual members of the group are not known to be poisonous. Saltwater bream are even consumed by people.

Would they make a good pet?

No, they are not suitable to be a pet as they are wild animals.

Did you know...

The word bream is derived from the Old French term breme, which means sharp and alert.

How many eggs does a bream fish lay?

In common bream, the female spawns once a year and is capable of laying 100,000-300,000 eggs per season.

What kind of fish is bream?

Bream itself is not any fish, but it is a term that is used for indicating some fish of different genera having flat and silver bodies. Saltwater bream, like gilt head bream, act as good menu fish and forms delicacies in many places. Fishing them is not difficult as they consume most bait. Common bait includes worms, sweetcorn, and other ground baits.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other including codfish facts or teira batfish.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our bream coloring pages.