Main Menu

ANR Fish Workgroup

Fish People

California Fish Species

Fish Search By Location

Cooperative Extension Links

California Fish Website Species Search

California Roach, Lavinia symmetricus
		Appearance and Identification: · Small chunky fish, usually less than 100cm TL, rarely exceed 120 mm SL · Large head, small downward turned mouth · Coloration: body is usually grey to blue on top, silvery underside. o Spawning adults: may develop orange and red colorations on chin and paired fins. § Breeding males may develop series of nodes or tubercles on head. · Fin rays: dorsal 7-9, anal 6-8 · Lateral line scales: 47-63
Life History:
		California roach are capable of adapting to varying habitats from coastal streams to mountain foothill streams . They are predominately found in small warm streams but are capable of thriving in larger colder streams with diverse conditions. They may actually occupy several different habitat types within a single drainage. Extreme tolerance includes temperatures ranging from 30-35ºC and dissolved oxygen levels as low as 1-2ppm. In-stream location may vary depending on geography and predators. When California roach share water with Sacramento pikeminnows, roach will stick to the stream margins, whereas in the absence of these piscivorous fish roach may venture into deeper pools. California roach are omnivorous and diet may depend on stream size and food availability. In smaller rivers roach feed mostly on filamentous algae, supplementing their diet with crustaceans and insects. In larger rivers these fish may focus on a diet of aquatic insects year round. The growth and development of California roach is largely seasonally dependent. Most growth occurs during the summer months and roach may grow 20-40 mm in a year. Most fish of this species reach sexual maturity at age 2-3 and rarely live beyond three years total. Spawning occurs in March through early July, and timing is temperature dependant. California roach breed in gravel beds or riffles where groups of females lay eggs on and into the substrate. One or two males follow each female closely to fertilize the groups of eggs. Each female may produce 250-2,000 eggs per year depending on body size. The eggs hatch in 2-3 days, but the larvae remain in the protection of the gravel substrate before emerging to swim.
Links to Other Research
	Here's a list of California watersheds where California Roach may be found. © 2003 - Regents of the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Communication Services E-Mail Web Master ANR Non-Discrimination Statement