Belica

Identification

The belica (also called sunbleak or moderlieschen) is a small, slender cyprinid of 5 to 8 cm. The body is laterally compressed with relatively large scales that sit loosely and detach easily — the Dutch name "vetje" (fatty) refers to the greasy feel of the scales. The color is silvery with a distinctive blue lateral stripe along the flank, most visible in young fish. The mouth points upward, adapted for surface feeding. The belica is smaller and slimmer than roach, and lacks red fins.

Behavior & ecology

The belica lives in small schools in still or slow-flowing water with rich underwater vegetation. It forages primarily at the water surface on small insects, algae, and zooplankton. The spawning behavior is distinctive: the female wraps strings of eggs in spirals around plant stems, and the male actively guards them. The species prefers warm, clear water with a muddy bottom and dense vegetation. The belica is sensitive to water pollution and quickly disappears from disturbed waters.

In the Netherlands

The belica is a protected species under the European Habitats Directive (Annex II). In the Netherlands, it occurs scattered across ponds, polder ditches, ornamental waters, and small lakes, but populations are under pressure from habitat loss and water pollution. The species serves as an indicator for waters with good ecological quality. The belica has no significance for sport fishing — it is too small to catch and too valuable to disturb. Protection of the shallow, vegetated waters where it lives benefits the entire ecosystem.