Stone Loach - Barbatula barbatula

The general appearance is of a slim, long bodied pale brown fish dappled with darker patches of brown. It has six barbels on the mouth.

Very clean, unpolluted stony streams. it will not tolerate even mildly polluted waters.

All year round.

Spawns once a year in low productivity streams, but exhibits multiple spawning within a season in high productivity environments. Eggs are a dull white and laid among stones and water plants.

Widespread and fairly frequent in all of Britain except in the north of Scotland.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. Widely distributed in smaller rivers and streams. Including the Swift, Rothley Brook, Gaddesby Brook, Wreake, Mease/Gilwiskaw, eastern and western Sence, Soar, Chater and Charnwood streams.