The body has a typical cyprinid shape and generally silvery appearance, while the fins are a pinkish red in varying degrees. The tail and back fin can be greyish. In older and bigger fish the body colour can turn to yellow/bronze. The Ide reaches a maximum length of about 60-80 cm though the average size is about 40 cm. It can reach a weight of about 9 lb.

Freshwater lakes and ponds ? it can also thrive in rivers.

All year round but especially in summer.

Ide are predators, eating insects, crustaceans, molluscs, and small fish.

This is an introduced species that is becoming established in the wild in Britain.

Still infrequent in Leicestershire and Rutland, but may be unreported from small ponds and lakes.