Three-spined stickleback

Gasterosteus aculeatus

• It can live in both freshwater and saltwater.
• Although all sticklebacks lack scales, their coloration can vary greatly.
• Male sticklebacks build nests. They dig shallow depressions, collect nesting material (e.g., algae), and glue it together using a secretion from their kidneys. By spitting stones onto the nest, they camouflage the breeding chamber.
• It displays complex courtship behavior. During the breeding season, males turn bright red and turquoise and perform a “dance” to attract females. After the female lays her eggs, the male takes over guarding and caring for the clutch.
• In Lake Constance, it is considered an invasive species. Since 2012, its mass occurrence has negatively affected the whitefish population. In 2024, however, stickleback numbers declined sharply — the reasons for this are still unclear.

Eurasian minnow

Phoxinus phoxinus

Schon gewusst?

• It can be used as an indicator of the ecological purity of a body of water, as it requires very clean, cool water with a high oxygen content.
• During the spawning season, the minnow becomes particularly beautiful: the males’ fins turn red, and their backs become deep green with a bronze shimmer. In females, only the corners of the mouth turn red.
• Minnows taste bitter.

Burbot

Lota lota

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• It grows up to 150 cm in length and over 30 kg in weight; on average, however, it reaches 30–60 cm and around 10 kg.
• It lives across the entire Northern Hemisphere in rivers and lakes, but can also be found in the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea.
• Because the burbot feeds on bottom‑dwelling organisms, heavy metals accumulate in its liver – this is why it is used to monitor water quality.
• In Lake Constance, the Burbot is called "Trüsche".
• They live 10 to 12 years.
• Due to environmental pollution, the loss of natural spawning grounds, and competition from species such as the eel, Burbot populations are considered highly threatened in some areas.
  It becomes particularly active at cold temperatures of 4–18 °C, when many other fish species become less active.

Pikeperch

Sander lucioperca

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• The pikeperch is a predatory fish. This is evident from its large, curved canine teeth, which are visible even when its mouth is closed and resemble those of a vampire. In complete darkness, it can locate and successfully hunt prey thanks to its sharp sense of smell and excellent vision.
• Pikeperch typically grow to 90–100 cm in length. The record size is even 120 cm!
• The maximum age of pikeperch is 25 years.

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

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• They can live up to 30 years and reach a length of 140 cm.
• Fossils of the ancestors of today’s pike are 56 million years old. They are almost indistinguishable from modern pike.
• From a size of around 80 cm, a pike no longer has to fear other pike. Smaller individuals are on the menu of their larger counterparts.
• Waterbirds and small mammals can also fall prey to the pike.
• Pike eggs are so sticky that they can adhere to the feet of waterbirds and thus spread to other bodies of water.