A very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. Carp is a common name for various species of freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. They have been introduced to various locations around the world.

1. Salient Biological characteristics of
some selected Carps
Imran Hossain
Reg. No.12-05-2864
FBE201 Biology Of Farmed Fish

2. Food and Feeding Habit
Growth
Maturity
Fecundity
Breeding Season and Spawning
Characteristics Habitat

3. A very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia.
Carp is a common name for various species of freshwater
fish of the family Cyprinidae.
They have been introduced to various locations around the
world.
Carps

4. Grass carp
Ctenopharyngodon idellus
Grass carp is a natural
inhabitant of the flatland
Rivers of China and the
middle and lower reaches
of river Amur in USSR.
The fish has been
introduced into many other
countries in recent times.

5. Mainly
herbivores.
Grass carp
normally eats
aquatic weeds &
phytoplankton of
the fresh water.
Has specialized
pharyngeal teeth
for rasping
aquatic
vegetation.
The natural food
of grass carp fry
about 7-9mm
long is protozoa,
rotifers & nauplii
.
Food and Feeding Habit

6. In natural waters, grass carp attains a length of 15 to 30 cm weighing 225g
to 650g at the end of 1st year.
A length of 60cm and a weight of 1.8 to 2.3kg at the end of second year.
After four years, the weight may be 4.5 kg.
Comparing the daily growth of grass carp in different countries, observed
to be 2.8g in Siberia, 3.3 g in Turkmenia and south China, 4.7g in India.
Chinese ponds, grass carp attains a weight of 225 to 680g in first year, 1200
to 2300g in second, 2700g in third and 3800g in forth year.
Growth

7. In China, the approximate age at maturity of
grass carp is 1500 days, counting only those
days when temperature true exceeds 150C.
Age at which grass carp attains maturity varies
greatly with climate and environmental
factors, especially temperature.
Maturity

8. Country Age at maturity
(year)
Weight
(kg)
China
South 4-5 6-8
Central 4-5 6-8
Northeast 6-7 6-8
India
Pond-breed 2 1.5
wild 3 4-8
Malaysia 1-2 2.3-3-2
Taiwan 4-5 3 or more
Size and age at first maturity of grass
carp in different countries

9.  Lin(1935) reported that in China a female grass carp
weighing 7kg had 100,000 ova.
 Inaba estimated that 485,000 ova in a grass carp weighing
7.1kg.
Fecundity

10. Total
Length
cm
Weight of
Fish gm
Weight of
ovaries gm
Weight of
fish: weight
of ovaries
Total
number of
eggs
Average
diameter of
ovaries(mm)
73.8 4768 540 6.7:1 372600 1.21
75 5330 880 6.6:1 441700 1.31
78.6 5476 656 8.3:1 396200 1.35
78.9 5724 1129 5:1 618100 1.30
79.2 7036 553 12.7:1 308800 1.33
*From Alikunhi and Parsmeswaran
Size and fecundity of grass carp

11. The fish breeds during monsoon months in
the flowing waters of its natural habitat, the
rivers.
Does not spawn naturally in the static
waters of ponds and tanks.
Breeding season and Spawning

12. Silver Carp
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
Silver carp naturally occurs in the
river systems, Yangtze, West
River, Kwangsi and Kwangtung in
south and central China and in the
Amur Basin in USSR.
Introduced into many countries in
recent years for aquaculture.

13. One to three-day old fry, when about 7-9 mm long, mainly feed on zooplankton, rotifers and
copepod nauplii.
Their diet expands as the fry grow to include copepods, Cladocera and phytoplankton.
Still larger fry and adults feed on Flagella, Dino-flagellata, Myxophyceae,Bacillariophyceae,
etc., primarily phytoplankton and secondarily zooplankton.
They have phytoplanktophagous feeding habit.
Food and Feeding Habit

14.  Under a given set of conditions, the growth rate of fry of silver
carp is extremely high in the first 10 days the fish doubling its
weight every second day and becoming about 19 mm long
weighting 0.09 g in 10 days, 47 mm long weighting 1.1 g in 20
days and 17 cm long weighting 5.5 g in 60 days.
 Absolute weight increases 0.001-0.02 g/day in the first 10 days
and 4.2 g/day during the fingerling stage.
 Silver carp attains highest growth rate in length in the second
year of life and maximum growth rate in weight in the third
year.
Growth

15. Age(years) Body Length(cm) Weight(g)
2 50 1803
3 57.6 4650
4 60.3 5340
5 63 6400
Adapted from Chang (1963)
Growth of Silver carp In Tabular form

16.  Of the environmental factors, temperature exercises
maximum effect on the maturity of silver carp.
 The age at first maturity of silver carp can be
approximated by the same formula as for grass carp.
 However, this may not be applicable in locations
other than China.
Maturity

17. Country Sexual maturity Authority
Age(year) Weight(kg)
South China 2-3 2-5 Kuronuma(1968)
Central China 4-5 2-5 Kuronuma(1968)
North China 5-6 2-5 Kuronuma(1968)
Rumania 6-9 6-8 Woynarovich(1968)
Sexual maturity of silver carp reported from
China and Rumania are shown in Table

18.  Alikunhi and Parameswaran reported the fecundity of
silver carp weighing 3.18kg-8.51kg, as 145000-2044000.
The number of eggs per gram body weight was 171 and
per gram ovary weight, 292.
 The fecundity of silver carp at different sizes and ages,
as observed at the Pond Culture Division of Central
Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Cuttack, India is
shown in table next.
Fecundity

19. Particular of
stock
No. of
examined
Range and average Percentag
e of
ovarian
weight,
range and
average
Ova per g
body
weight
range and
average
Ova per g
ovary
weight
range and
average
Ova
diameter
range and
average
Length Weight
g
One year old
induced bred
9 38.8-57.5
(52.2)
591-2430
(1734)
9.6-24
(14.4)
75-252
(167)
788-1768
(1165)
1.07-1.36
(1.20)
2 year old
Tone river
stocked
reared in
Cuttok, India.
8 56.5-74
65.9
3178-6523
(4572)
14.3-34.9
(25.6)
46-313
(25.6)
318-951
(732)
-
3+ stock 14 63.5-82.8
(74.7)
4994-8512
(6323)
13.6-27.2
(20.2)
100-228
(161)
518-1031
(801)
1.21-1.36
(1.225)
4+ stock 2 80.2-82.5
(81.4)
6294-7491
(7208)
22-24
(23)
160-180
(170)
667-822
(745)
1.31-1.35
The fecundity of silver carp at different sizes and ages

20. Silver carp breeds naturally during April-July in the flowing waters of its
natural habitat, the rivers of China.
In the Tone River in Japan, where the fish has established itself, it spawns
naturally during June-July.
At Cuttack in India, pond reared fully ripe males are available during April-
May and the females, a little later, during May-July (Alikunhi et al.1963).
The fish does not spawn naturally in ponds and tanks.
Breeding and Spawning

21. Bighead Carp
Bighead carp is the natural
inhabitant of the river
systems Yangtze, West
river , Kwangsi and
Kwangtung of South and
central China and the
species has been
transplanted into many
countries recent years.

22.  Larvae feed mainly on unicellular planktonic
organisms , nauplii and rotifers.
 Fry and adults feed on diverse forms of planktonic
life , mainly zooplankton as well as Bacillariophyceae ,
Flagellata, Dinoflagellata , Myxophyceae etc.
 The alimentary canal of this fish is much shorter, size
for size than that of Silver carp.
Food and Feeding Habit

23.  In aquaculture operations, growth rate would
depend on rate of stocking, food available
naturally from aquatic fertilization and
supplied supplementarily, competition with
other species co stocked, conversion rate and
environmental conditions.
Growth

24. Age(years) Body Length(cm) Weight(g)
2 63.0 3250
3 74.6 10,700
4 75.1 10,900
5 77.8 11,800
Adapted from Chang et al. (1983)
Growth Of Bighead Carp

25.  The pattern of attainment of maturity follows the same
principle as that of Silver carp and Grass carp.
Sexual maturity of silver carp reported from China, Taiwan,
USSR are shown in Table:
Maturity
Country Age at maturity
(year)
Weight
(kg)
China
South 3-4 5-10
Central 4-5 5-10
Northeast 6-7 5-10
USSR 5 -
Taiwan 3-4 5 or more
Adapted from Chang et al. (1983)

26.  Breeding and Spawning
 The fish breeds during monsoon months in the flowing
waters of its natural habitat, the rivers, but does not
sp0awn naturally in the static waters of ponds and tanks.
April–June, peak in May (Asia) .
 Spawning temperature 22–30 C in native range.
 Large tributaries with high flow (0.8 m/sec) are required.
 Males are promiscuous and will chase females, occasionally
rubbing their head against the belly of the female.
 Spawning occurs at the surface over rocky areas in flowing
water.
 A single female may spawn more than once within a year
 Fecundity
The fecundity is 126 eggs per gram of body
weight.

27. Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
 Known as “European Carp”.
 Olive green coloration above,
yellowish below.
 Fins often reddish.
 Body laterally compressed
 Body height 1/4 body length.
 Triangular head with blunt
snout and thick nose plate.

28. Food and Feeding Habit
Carnivorous, Detrivorous
Juvenile Feed On
• First feeding at 6-7 mm
• At 10-20 mm feed primarily on small
zooplankton & protozoans
• At 20-100 mm feed on a variety of
zooplankton, protozoans, small
crustaceans & insect larva
• Larger than 100 mm feed on bottom
detritus composed of decayed plant
matter & benthic organisms.
• Feed on bottom
detritus
composed of
decayed plant
matter and
benthic
organisms.
Adult
Feed
On

29.  Growth varies with geography
 Highest in tropical and
subtropical conditions.
 Reaching 0.4 kg in the 1st year.
 0.8 kg in the 2nd year.
 1.5 kg in the 3rd year.
 2.0 to 2.5 kg by the end of their
4th year
Growth & Maturity
 Age at first maturation: 2-3 years
(males), 4-5 years (female)
 Weight at first maturation: 1-2 kg (male),
3-5 kg (female)
 Length at first maturation: 25-30 cm
(male), 34 cm (female)

30. Total fecundity ranges
from 90,000 to 300,000
ova/kg live weight of
the female
Egg diameter 1.0-1.5
mm
Eggs sink and adhere to
rooted vegetation or
other firm substrates
Eggs generally occur in
clusters of several
hundred
Can hatch in 6 days
when temperature is 21
deg C
Fecundity

31. April-June in temperate climates
Year-round in tropical climates
Limited to freshwater
Breeding season and Spawning

32. RUI
Labeo rohita
Body
compressed.
Dorsal profile
is more convex
than that of
ventral profile.
Fins are gray in
color with
orange margin
in larger
specimen.
Lateral line
present and
complete.

33.  Surface to Column feeder.
 Feeds on plant matters including decaying
vegetation
 Well habituated in taking rice bran, wheat bran,
mustard oil cake and other supplementary feed
under aquaculture system.
Food and Feeding Habit

34. Growth ,Maturity ,Breeding & Spawning
•The minimum age at
first maturity for both
sexes is two years,
while complete
maturity is reached
after four years in
males and five years
in females.
•In captivity with
proper feeding the
species attains
maturity towards the
end of second year
Growth
&
Maturity
•Polygamous fish.
•Spawning season,
extending from April
to September.
•Optimum temperature
for spawning is 22-31
°C.
•In nature, spawning
occurs in the shallow
and marginal areas of
flooded rivers.
•However, breeding
does not take place in
such lentic pond
environments.
Breeding
&
Spawning

35.  The fecundity varies from 226 000 to 2 794 000.
 It depends upon fish size and ovary weight.
 On average it ranges from 200 000-300 000 eggs/kg.
Fecundity

36. Catla
Catla catla  Compressed body.
 comparatively short with broad
head.
 Mouth is wide, upper lip is thin and
covered by skin of snout.
 Lower lip is moderately thick,
 Dorsal profile is more convex than
that of abdomen.
 Gill opening is circular.

37. Carnivorous , Mainly column feeder.
Feeds mainly on zooplankton
Utilize the mid layers of habitat.
Also consume detritus & decayed vegetation
Food & Feeding Habit

38. Growth
 Catla is the fastest
growing of all Indian
major carps.
 In natural waters, catla
attains a length of 295
mm in the 1st year,
 514 mm in the 2nd year,
 716 mm in the 3rd year.
 323 mm in the 4th year.
Growth & Maturity
Marurity
 Catla attains first maturity
in the second year of life.
 Alikunhi mentioned that in
ponds catla becomes
mature when 22 months
old.
 Natarajan & Jhingran
estimated that catla from
River Jamuna at first
maturity were in the
second year age-group.

39.  This fish Breeds during summer and rainy season.
 Eggs are not floatable, non-adhesive and yellowish in color
 The spawning season of catla coincides with the southwest
monsoon in north eastern India & Bangladesh, where it lasts from
May to August and in north India and Pakistan, from June to
September.
Breeding & Spawning

40. Age of
Fish(Year
s)
Total Length(mm) Weight(g) Weight of
ovary(g)
No of ovary
3+ 783 11229 301 230831
3+ 795 10445 335 343987
3+ 795 11279 3187 1234676
4 840 13445 3325 3214667
5 915 15677 3340 34562198
5 925 16678 4435 3452789
5 935 17338 2345 3007654
5+ 950 18445 3118 3241987
FECUNDITY

41.  The body is elongated and streamlined
 Dorsal profile more convex than that of abdomen.
 Ventral profile slightly convex. Grayish or greenish color on the
back and silvery at the sides and below
 Fins are slightly orange colored in larger specimen
 Lateral line present and complete with about 40-45 scales
MRIGAL
Cirrhinus cirrhosus

42.  Bottom dweller & Detritivour.
 Feed on both natural and supplementary feeds
 Well habituated in taking rice bran, wheat bran,
mustard oil cake and other supplementary feed under
aquaculture system.
FOOD & FEEDING HABIT

43. Growth & Maturity
Growth
• In natural waters, the fish
shows a very rapid growth
rate in the first four years of
its life.
• Followed by a period of slow
growth in the next 3 years.
• The growth rate thereafter
becomes even slower.
Maturity
•Mrigal is reported to attain its first
maturity when about 1years of old
•the males mature at the end of the
first year and females, some time
later.
•the first maturity of mrigal at a
length of 349 mm, when the fish
was 2+ years old.
•The minimum age of mrigal at first
maturity, has been reported to be
two years for males and three
years for females.

44. FECUNDITY, SPAWNING & BREEDING
FECUNDITY
• The fecundity of mrigal vary
from 124,800 to 1,905,000 in
specimens weighing 904 g and
4,503 g.
• Maximum number of eggs
released by a mrigal, weighing
4.76 kg, was 1,164,000
SPAWNING
• The spawning season of mrigal
depends on the onset and
duration of the monsoon. It
coincides with the southwest
monsoon in India, Bangladesh
and Pakistan.

45. THANKS TO ALL..