Tench is a fish with a heavy body and head, rounded fins, and small scales. It is usually a deep green or brown color, sometimes with a bronze tinge. The skin secretes a great deal of mucus, which makes the tench slimy. The tench lives in the still waters of lakes, rivers, and marshes. It eats dead animals and plants, insect larvae, crustaceans, and mollusks. Tench lay small eggs on the leaves of water plants. The tench is native to Europe and Asia but has been introduced to North America, Australia, and New Zealand. It grows to over 2 feet (60 centimeters) long.
