Bitterling

Bitterling

タナゴ Tanago

AF	AF+	AC	e+	WW	CF	NL
#10	#10	#10	#10	#1	#1	#1

Location

Price

River

900 Bells (WW, CF, NL)
1,300 Bells (AC)

Size

Shadow size

3.5 in. 10 cm

Tiny

Time of year

Time of day

December to February (GCN),
November to February (WW, CF, NL)

All day

Scientific name

Acheilognathus melanogaster

Family

Cyprinidae - Minnows/Carp

Appearances

AF, AF+, AC, AFe+, WW, CF, NL

Rarity

Fairly Common (★★)

Regional names

Amarguillo

Rodeo

Bouvière

Bitterling

"I caught a bitterling! What's it so bitter about?" —New Leaf

The bitterling is a fairly common winter fish found in all games of the Animal Crossing series. It can be found in the river all day during the months of November through February. It sells for varying prices depending on the game.

Donating to the museum

As with all fish caught in Animal Crossing series, the bitterling can be donated to the museum in each game by talking to Blathers, who will also give some information on it.

In Animal Crossing

Upon donation, Blathers the curator will say:

"Hoo! Indeed, WOO hoo! A bitterling, I believe. Even run-of-the-mill, common fish are valuable resources, you see. All part of the grand tapestry, wot! We will take excellent care of this fellow, oh yes. You can rest assured. Excellent care, indeed."

In Wild World

Upon donation, Blathers the curator will say:

"I must say, I've never personally considered eating one of these before. It's so very...goldfishy... No, not particularly tasty-looking, to be sure..."

After donation, the bitterling can be found in the front tank in the first room.

In City Folk

Upon donation, Blathers the curator will say:

"It's quite common for enthusiasts to keep bitterlings in the same tank as tropical fish, eh wot? Indeed, once upon a time, this fish was a popular choice for the private fishing ponds of the rich!"

It can be found swimming around in the middle-left tank in the aquarium after donation.

In New Leaf

In New Leaf, an information board in the aquarium will list information about this fish.

These fish are so small, they can fit their entire body in the palm of your hand. During mating season, the male's belly turns a light orange in order to properly attract a mate. They live in rivers and lakes and deposit eggs in large bivalves where the eggs hatch and live for a while.

Capture quotes

"I caught a bitterling! I wonder what makes this little guy so angry..." —Animal Crossing

"I caught a bitterling! So small, so very bitter!" —Wild World

"I caught a bitterling! But it's pretty sweet to me!" —City Folk

Japanese Quotes
「たなごをつり上げた！きれいでカワイー！」 —Animal Forest "I caught a bitterling! It's so cute!" (translation)

Encyclopedia information

Wild World

Fish	Encyclopedia Information
	"They lay their eggs in live shellfish, so they're easy to raise, but hard to breed."
	Size	3.9 inches
	Habitat	Rivers
	Season	Winter
	Icon

City Folk

Fish

Encyclopedia Information

"Easy to raise but tricky to breed, these are hard to find in the wild."
Size	About 4 inches.
Habitat	Rivers
Season	Winter

New Leaf

Fish

Encyclopedia Information

"I caught a bitterling! What's it so bitter about?"
Size	About 4 inches.
Habitat	Rivers
Season	Winter

Gallery

Further information

The Japanese bitterling (Acheilognathus melanogaster) is found in lakes, pond swamps and rivers throughout Japan. It is omnivorous, feeding on small aquatic insects and crustaceans and algae. It is an oviparous breeder from March to June. However, it is becoming rarer, and has been declared extinct in two prefectures of Japan. (Further Information)

Fish