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Fish in Germany
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Golden Spined Loach

Golden Spined Loach

Sabanejewia baltica

DE: Goldsteinbeißer

R · Extremely rare
Maximum Size
12 cm
Waters
1

Distinguishing Features

Long, laterally compressed body, six barbels, inferior mouth, row of dark spots.

Habitat

Rivers and streams with sandy bottom, usually near the banks.

Red List Germany

R · Extremely rare

Very few occurrences in Germany; any harm could wipe it out.

Extremely rare and known only from the middle Oder.

Red List of freshwater fish:
Freyhof et al. 2023 · Rote-Liste-Zentrum
IUCN global:
LC · Least Concern

Fishing rules by federal state

Can I keep it?
Federal state Minimum size Closed season Notes
Brandenburg Protected year-round

Not yet researched here — see the ordinance of: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia

Statewide rules for anglers as of 24 Oct 2026, without guarantee. Clubs and waters can set stricter rules; the ordinance text is binding.

Waters

Baden-Württemberg Bavaria Berlin Brandenburg Bremen Hamburg Hesse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Lower Saxony North Rhine-Westphalia Rhineland-Palatinate Saarland Saxony Saxony-Anhalt Schleswig-Holstein Thuringia Rhein Elbe Donau Weser Ems Main Mosel Neckar Havel Spree Saale Isar Inn Finowkanal Oder-Havel-Kanal Main-Donau-Kanal Mittellandkanal Bodensee Chiemsee Ammersee Starnberger See Müritz Steinhuder Meer Scharmützelsee Schwielochsee Senftenberger See Oder

Map: Natural Earth (public domain); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Native

Oder

Expected in these federal states

Brandenburg

Expected occurrence, modelled from each water's fish zones, habitat type and the federal states the species lives in, and checked against GBIF records — not a record of observations.