A small (length 6 -12 cm) fish species, which is common in Latvian and Lithuanian freshwaters. Large, silvery scales, which are attached to the skin very loosely, are characteristic to sunbleaks. When you take the fish in your hands, the scales separate immediately. Sunbleks’ scales are used to produce a special essence (Essence d’Orient) that covers artificial pearls.

The species inhabits slow-flowing or stagnant waters – ponds and lakes, slow-flowing sections of plain rivers. It usually lives in large flocks, in the upper layers of the water. Reproduces in large numbers in pond farms. It is unintentionally spread during the transport of live fish raised in ponds. It feeds mainly on zooplankton and insects, which have fallen into the water. Anglers tend to use sunbleaks to catch pike perch and perch, often moving them from one water body to another, thus artificially spreading it.