Chondrostoma nasus

Common Nase

freshwater

Bioload 0.8

Expert care

Leuciscidae

Your complete care profile

Common Nase (Chondrostoma nasus) is a freshwater fish associated with Europe, with a recorded adult length of up to 50 cm. This source-backed catalogue profile brings its essential aquarium planning information together on one page.

Temperature

18–24°C

pH range

6.5–7.5

Minimum tank

600 litres

Typical lifespan

15 years

Diet

Herbivore

Origin

Europe

Adult size

Up to 50 cm

Care level

Expert

Care level recorded in the source-backed catalogue profile.

Aquarium context

freshwater system

Primarily suited to public or specialist aquariums

Planning to add Common Nase?

Check it against your aquarium before purchase, then use the complete preparation checklist below.

Check compatibility

Species identity

Know the fish

Common name

Common Nase

Scientific name

Chondrostoma nasus

Family

Leuciscidae

Family group

Minnows

Water type

freshwater

Native range

Europe

Social planning

Individual assessment

Conservation

Near threatened (NT)

Aquarium setup

Build the right system

A fully cycled freshwater aquarium using conditioned water, stable temperature and no detectable ammonia or nitrite.

Use 600 litres as the minimum planning baseline before allowing extra space for a group, tank mates, decor and swimming behaviour.

Hold temperature at 18–24°C and pH at 6.5–7.5; stability matters more than chasing a single number.

Design the aquarium around the recorded adult length of 50 cm, not the juvenile size seen at purchase.

Provide retreat areas and visual breaks while preserving enough unobstructed space for normal movement and feeding.

Filtration & waste

High waste load (0.8 index): use generously sized biological and mechanical filtration, strong oxygenation and close test-led maintenance.

Feeding

Herbivore diet

Base the diet on species-appropriate algae and plant-rich foods, with variety for micronutrients. Do not assume natural tank algae is a complete diet.

Observe

Confirm every fish reaches food and swallows it.

Control

Stop before leftovers can decay in the aquarium.

Review

Track body condition, waste and feeding response over time.

Behaviour & tank mates

Community planning

Treat temperament as an individual assessment. Observe feeding and territorial behaviour, and keep a safe separation plan available.

No simple community match is approved in this profile. Plan species-only housing or obtain a specialist compatibility assessment before adding tank mates.

No pre-approved tank mate is listed. That is a safety signal, not a claim that every pairing will fail.

Health watch

Recognise warning signs early

These are risks to monitor, not diagnoses. Test the aquarium first and seek an aquatic vet or experienced specialist for severe, fast-moving or uncertain symptoms.

Freshwater ich

Watch for: Small white spots, flashing against objects, clamped fins or faster breathing.

First response: Confirm the signs, test water and use a treatment known to be safe for every species in the system.

Environmental stress

Watch for: Hiding, faded colour, clamped fins, glass surfing, rapid breathing or appetite loss.

First response: Test water, review temperature and tank mates, reduce disturbance and correct problems gradually.

Before bringing one home

Five-point readiness check

The established aquarium is at least 600 litres and matches the required freshwater system.

Temperature and pH overlap the full 18–24°C and 6.5–7.5 ranges.

A suitable herbivore food is available and the seller can demonstrate that the fish is feeding.

Ammonia and nitrite test at zero, acclimation is planned and a quarantine or observation option is ready.

Every proposed tank mate has been screened for adult size, behaviour, feeding competition and water compatibility.

Run compatibility check

Data & source notes

Transparent, in-app data

IUCN NT

Catalogue source

FishBase · release 26.07

Species record

FishBase SpecCode 4878

Aquarium context

Primarily suited to public or specialist aquariums

Temperature basis

FishSnap temperate-freshwater planning baseline

pH basis

FishSnap freshwater planning baseline

Tank basis

FishSnap conservative planning baseline derived from adult size, water type, social ecology and family

Lifespan basis

FishBase wild longevity record

Photo credit

FishBase remains an editorial reference, but the useful species and care information is interpreted here so you do not have to leave FishSnap. Conservative planning baselines are labelled as guidance, not guarantees.