Description
| Class: | Ray-finned fish |
| Squad: | Carp-like |
| Family: | Carp |
| Genus: | Carps |
| Scientific name: | Cyprinus |
| Homeland: | China and Southeast Asia |
| Habitats: | rivers, lakes, ponds |
| Nutrition: | omnivores |
| Weight: | average 1-5 kg, sometimes up to 50 kg |
| Lifespan: | 2-7 years, some live 50-100 years |
Carp are large freshwater fish. Among them there are predators, herbivores and omnivores. Carp is distinguished from other fish of this family, crucian carp and grass carp, by short antennae on the upper lip. Subspecies also differ from each other.
- River carp constantly have to fight the current to find food, so they are recognized by their elongated and elongated body and smaller size.
- Lakes and ponds are classified as closed reservoirs. The carp here are round in shape, quickly gain weight and are adapted to the lack of oxygen in the water.
General information
The carp family has a common distinctive feature - the absence of teeth on the jaws. The teeth are located inside the pharynx on the pharyngeal bones. The process of eating food involves grabbing food and pushing it inside, where grinding occurs. The oral cavity is mobile, the lips are flat and fleshy. Many individuals have one pair of antennae above the upper lip (except for the eight-barred gudgeon, it has 4). The swim bladder is very powerful, contains 2, rarely 3 sections. The body is covered with large scales or completely naked, which is not so common.
During spawning, the female lays her eggs on flat stones or algae leaves. Eggs usually have a viscous sticky structure with rare exceptions. For example, grass carp's future offspring drift in the flow of water.
The carp family is a commercial fish; even small species are popular among breeders and fishermen. About half of the known species are bred in artificial reservoirs for further sale . These include:
- carp;
- bream;
- rudd;
- vobla;
- silver carp, etc.
Barbs are aquarium fish from the carp family.
Decorative aquarium fish are no less popular. The history of their breeding has been going on for decades. It is known that the first mentions date back to the 1st century AD. For the first time, Japanese specialists, and then Chinese, took up selection. The list of aquarium breeds includes:
- goldfish;
- barbs;
- brachydanio;
- bots, etc.
The sizes of natural inhabitants range from 6 to 300 cm in length. This scattering is characterized by the diversity of carp fish species. But large representatives (more than 80 cm) are not found so often. The most common types are medium-sized. The sizes mainly depend on the continent of habitat. Thus, North America is inhabited by small representatives, while in central Eurasia larger fish with a length of about 20−150 cm predominate.
The color can be different, the most common are light greenish and golden shades. But artificially bred selective species surprise with their variety of colors. Colored representatives of the natural environment are found in the tropical zone.
Origin of carp
There are two opposing versions:
The first claims that the carp was bred artificially by Chinese breeders using the genetics of domesticated carp. That’s why the name is translated as “domesticated carp.” Over time, through river canals and thanks to transportation, a new type of fish populated the waters of Europe, and then came to America. This version is considered erroneous.
The second version says that wild carp have long been considered an inhabitant of rivers and lakes. And they settled more often lake inhabitants. New, artificial breeds based on this variety of carp have been developed over the past 150 years for the biological improvement of species diversity.
What does it eat?
All types of carp eat constantly, almost incessantly, from shoots of plants living in the water to frog and fish eggs. This fish has a special structure of the digestive system, not the same as that of other fish. The internal structure of the carp's digestive system is designed in such a way that food continuously moves through the intestines. The speed of food movement depends only on the ambient temperature. The internal structure of the anterior part of the intestine in carp is such that it can greatly change its size, stretching to the maximum or shrinking sharply.
Therefore, this fish constantly eats everything that is within its reach.
The diet of this omnivorous ichthyofauna includes:
- seaweed;
- reed;
- crustaceans;
- shellfish;
- caviar of freshwater inhabitants;
- insects;
- larvae;
- fry.
When winter ends, carp switches to plant nutrition. In autumn and winter it feeds on animal food.
If carp lives in artificial reservoirs, it eats bread, corn, mixed feed, mucus from coastal algae, and even manure from farm animals, which can enter the reservoir from the shore.
What does carp look like?
Depending on the species, carp may differ in appearance. But this fish is easy to recognize by its external signs:
- the eyes are green-golden, set high;
- large body slightly humpbacked and plump;
- nose with double nostrils;
- large scales with a dark border;
- the sides are golden, slightly brownish in color; the abdomen is light; back dark;
- the color of the dorsal fin of a notched shape, which is crowned with a spiny ray, is grayish-olive; the short anal fin is also decorated with a spine;
- the mouth is large, elongated into a tube;
- upper lip with four short antennae.
Appearance of different types of carp
The body of the carp is covered with a protective layer of mucus.
Carp and carp - differences
Reservoirs of the basins of southern Russia, rivers and fresh sea bays are habitats for wild river carp. It would be more correct to call it common carp, which translates as “fish living in the mud.” And carp is a fish that is bred industrially using closed reservoirs. The wild representative, carp, has a more elongated body and smaller size.
The difference between carp and crucian carp
| Comparison details: | Carp | crucian carp |
| Mustache | present | No |
| Nose | with a hump | straight line |
| Lips | fleshy | thin line |
| Torso | plump, slightly elongated, flexible | higher than carp, laterally compressed |
| Scales | dark, large, soft | light, small, hard |
| Dorsal | large, with recess | light and small |
| Average weight | 5-50 kg | 2 kg - limit |
| Mobility | sedentary | chaotic movement |
comparison table
List of genera
| Acanthalburnus Berg, 1916 | |
| — | Acanthogobio Herzenstein, 1892 |
| Common spiny bitterlings | Acanthorhodeus Bleeker, 1871 |
| — | Acapoeta Cockerell, 1910 |
| — | Albulichthys Bleeker, 1860 |
| Amblyrynchichty | Amblyrhynchichthys Bleeker, 1860 |
| — | Anabarilius Cockerell, 1923 |
| — | Anaecypris Collares-Pereira, 1983 |
| — | Ancherythroculter Yih et Wu, 1964 |
| Chinese riding crops | Aphyocypris Günther, 1868 |
| Pike asps, balding asps | Aspiolucius Berg, 1907 |
| — | Aspiorhynchus Kessler, 1879 |
| Asp | Aspius Agassiz, 1832 |
| — | Atrilinea Chu, 1935 |
| — | Aztecula Jordan et Evermann, 1898 |
| Shark balls | Balantiocheilos Bleeker, 1860 |
| Barbichts | Barbichthys Bleeker, 1860 |
| — | Barbodes Bleeker, 1859 |
| — | Barboides Bruning, 1929 |
| — | Barbonymus Kottelat, 1999 |
| — | Barbopsis Di Caporiacco, 1926 |
| Barylia | Barilius Hamilton, 1822 |
| — | Belligobio Jordan et Hubbs, 1925 |
| — | Bengal Gray, 1833 |
| Bivia | Biwia Jordan et Fowler, 1903 |
| Gusters | Blicca Heckel, 1843 |
| — | Boraras Kottelat et Vidthayanon, 1993 |
| Cecobarbus | Caecobarbus Boulenger, 1921 |
| — | Caecocypris Banister et Bunni, 1980 |
| Campostomas | Campostoma Agassiz, 1855 |
| Ostroluchki | Capoetobrama Berg, 1916 |
| — | Carasobarbus Karaman, 1971 |
| Chinese crucian carp | Carassioides Oshima, 1926 |
| — | Catlocarpio Boulenger, 1898 |
| — | Cetidia Jordan et Richardson, 1909 |
| — | Chagunius Smith, 1938 |
| Shemai | Chalcalburnus Berg, 1933 |
| Sungariki | Chanodichthys Bleeker, 1860 |
| Podusts | Chondrostoma Agassiz, 1832 |
| — | Chuanchia Herzenstein, 1891 |
| Clinostomus | Clinostomus Girard, 1856 |
| Coptostomabarbus | Coptostomabarbus David et Poll, 1937 |
| — | Coreius Jordan et Starks, 1905 |
| — | Coreoleuciscus Mori, 1935 |
| — | Cosmochilus Sauvage, 1878 |
| Caesius | Couesius Jordan, 1878 |
| Bleak | Culter Basilewsky, 1855 |
| — | Cultrichthys Smith, 1938 |
| Indian barbs | Cyclocheilichthys Bleeker, 1859 |
| — | Cyprinella Girard, 1856 |
| — | Cyprinion Heckel, 1843 |
| Carps | Cyprinus Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Dionda | Dionda Girard, 1856 |
| Ottomans | Diptychus Steindachner, 1866 |
| — | Discherodontus Rainboth, 1989 |
| — | Discocheilus Zhang, 1997 |
| — | Discogobio Lin, 1931 |
| — | Discolabeo Fowler, 1937 |
| Airmotus | Eirmotus Schultz, 1959 |
| Yellowcheeks | Elopichthys Bleeker, 1860 |
| Engrauliciprisy | Engraulicypris Günther, 1894 |
| — | Epalzeorhynchos Bleeker, 1855 |
| Eremichty | Eremichthys Hubbs et Miller, 1948 |
| — | Erimonax Jordan, 1924 |
| — | Erimystax Jordan, 1882 |
| Verkhoglyady | Erythroculter Berg, 1909 |
| Ezomus | Esomus Swainson, 1839 |
| — | Evarra Woolman, 1894 |
| Exoglosses | Exoglossum Rafinesque, 1818 |
| Garry | Garra Hamilton, 1822 |
| — | Gibelion Heckel, 1843 |
| Gila | Gila Baird et Girard, 1853 |
| Far Eastern minnows | Gnathopogon Bleeker, 1860 |
| Eight-mouthed minnows | Gobiobotia Kreyenberg, 1911 |
| — | Gobiocypris Ye et Fu, 1983 |
| — | Gymnocypris Günther, 1868 |
| — | Gymnodanio Chen et He, 1992 |
| — | Gymnodiptychus Herzenstein, 1892 |
| Gymnostomies | Gymnostomus Heckel, 1843 |
| — | Hainania Koller, 1927 |
| Gampala | Hampala Kuhl et van Hasselt in van Hasselt, 1823 |
| Horses | Hemibarbus Bleeker, 1860 |
| Roast bellies | Hemiculter Bleeker, 1860 |
| — | Hemiculterella Warpachowski, 1887 |
| Chemigrammocapetes | Hemigrammocapoeta Pellegrin, 1927 |
| Chemigrammocypris | Hemigrammocypris Fowler, 1910 |
| Chemitremia | Hemitremia Cope, 1870 |
| — | Henicorhynchus Smith, 1945 |
| — | Herzensteinia Chu, 1935 |
| American roaches | Hesperoleucus Snyder, 1913 |
| Goradandii | Horadetia Deraniyagala, 1943 |
| — | Horalabiosa Silas, 1954 |
| — | Huigobio Fang, 1938 |
| Gibognathus, American Podusts | Hybognathus Agassiz, 1855 |
| Hybopsis | Hybopsis Agassiz, 1854 |
| — | Hypselobarbus Bleeker, 1860 |
| — | Hypsibarbus Rainboth, 1996 |
| — | Iberocypris Doadrio, 1980 |
| — | Inlecypris Howes, 1980 |
| American Dace | Iotichthys Jordan et Evermann, 1896 |
| — | Iranocypris Bruun et Kaiser, 1944 |
| Ischikaunii's bellies | Ischikauia Jordan et Snyder, 1900 |
| — | Kalimantania Banarescu, 1980 |
| — | Kosswigobarbus Karaman, 1971 |
| Labeo | Labeo Cuvier, 1816 |
| — | Labeobarbus Rüppell, 1835 |
| — | Labiobarbus van Hasselt, 1823 |
| — | Ladigesocypris Karaman, 1972 |
| Vladislavia, Ladislavia | Ladislavia Dybowski, 1869 |
| — | Lagowskiella Dybowski, 1916 |
| — | Laocypris Kottelat, 2000 |
| Lavinia | Lavinia Girard, 1854 |
| American minnows | Lepidomeda Cope, 1874 |
| — | Lepidopygopsis Raj, 1941 |
| — | Leptobarbus Bleeker, 1860 |
| — | Leptocypris Boulenger, 1900 |
| Bleak-eltsy, bleak-eltsy | Leucalburnus Berg, 1916 |
| Verkhovka | Leucaspius Heckel et Kner, 1858 |
| Dace, chub | Leuciscus Cuvier, 1816 |
| — | Linichthys Zhang et Fang, 2005 |
| Lyssochiles | Lissochilus Weber et de Beaufort, 1916 |
| — | Lobocheilos Bleeker, 1853 |
| — | Longiculter Fowler, 1937 |
| Luciobrams, pike breams | Luciobrama Bleeker, 1870 |
| Luciocyprines, pike carp | Luciocyprinus Vaillant, 1904 |
| Luciosomes | Luciosoma Bleeker, 1855 |
| — | Luxilus Rafinesque, 1820 |
| — | Lythrurus Jordan, 1876 |
| — | Macrhybopsis Cockerell et Allison, 1909 |
| — | Margariscus Cockerell, 1909 |
| Honeys | Meda Girard, 1856 |
| Amur black bream | Megalobrama Dybowski, 1872 |
| — | Mekongina Fowler, 1937 |
| — | Mesobola Howes, 1984 |
| — | Mesogobio Banarescu et Nalbant, 1973 |
| — | Mesopotamichthys Karaman, 1971 |
| — | Metzia Jordan et Thompson, 1914 |
| Minnows | Microphysogobio Mori, 1934 |
| Micro-disbursements | Microrasbora Annetale, 1918 |
| Moaps, roaches-moaps | Moapa Hubbs et Miller, 1948 |
| Milocheilus | Mylocheilus Agassiz, 1855 |
| Milofarodons | Mylopharodon Ayres, 1855 |
| Black Cupids | Mylopharyngodon Peters, 1881 |
| — | Mystacoleucus Günther, 1868 |
| — | Naziritor Mirza et Javed, 1985 |
| — | Nematabramis Boulenger, 1894 |
| — | Neobarynotus Banarescu, 1980 |
| — | Neobola Vinciguerra, 1895 |
| Neolissohils | Neolissochilus Rainboth, 1985 |
| — | Nicholsicypris Chu, 1935 |
| Nokomis | Nocomis Girard, 1856 |
| Notemigonus | Notemigonus Rafinesque, 1819 |
| Notropis | Notropis Rafinesque, 1818 |
| Ochaetobius | Ochetobius Günther, 1868 |
| Onychostomas, Asian temples | Onychostoma Günther, 1896 |
| — | Opsaridium Peters, 1854 |
| — | Opsarius McClellet, 1839 |
| North American minnows | Opsopoeodus Hay, 1881 |
| — | Oregonichthys Hubbs in Schultz, 1929 |
| — | Oreichthys Smith, 1933 |
| Altai Ottomans, mountain dace | Oreoleuciscus Warpachowski, 1889 |
| Orthodons | Orthodon Girard, 1856 |
| — | Osteobrama Heckel, 1843 |
| — | Osteochilichthys Hora, 1942 |
| Osteochylae | Osteochilus Günther, 1868 |
| Indian saberfish | Oxygaster van Hasselt, 1823 |
| — | Oxygymnocypris Tsao, 1964 |
| Pachychylons | Pachychilon Steindachner, 1882 |
| Amur white bream | Parabramis Bleeker, 1865 |
| — | Paracanthobrama Bleeker, 1865 |
| — | Parachela Steindachner, 1881 |
| — | Paracrossochilus Popta, 1904 |
| Paralaubooks | Paralaubuca Bleeker, 1865 |
| Manchurian minnows | Paraleucogobio Berg, 1907 |
| — | Parapsilorhynchus Hora, 1921 |
| — | Pararhinichthys Stauffer, Hocutt et Mayden, 1997 |
| — | Parasikukia Doi, 2000 |
| — | Parasinilabeo Wu, 1939 |
| — | Paraspinibarbus Chu et Kottelat, 1989 |
| — | Parasqualidus Doi, 2000 |
| — | Parazacco Chen, 1982 |
| — | Pectenocypris Kottelat, 1982 |
| Chekhoni | Pelecus Agassiz, 1835 |
| — | Percocypris Chu, 1935 |
| — | Petroleuciscus Bogutskaya, 2002 |
| Phenacobius | Phenacobius Cope, 1867 |
| Minnows | Phoxinellus Heckel, 1843 |
| Minnows | Phoxinus Rafinesque, 1820 |
| — | Phreatichthys Vinciguerra, 1924 |
| Fatheads, fathead minnows, pimephalus | Pimephales Rafinesque, 1820 |
| — | Placocheilus Wu in Wu, Lin, Chen, Chen et He, 1977 |
| Plagoptera | Plagopterus Cope, 1874 |
| Amur flathead minnows | Platygobio Gill, 1863 |
| — | Platypharodon Herzenstein, 1891 |
| — | Platysmacheilus Lu, Luo et Chen, 1977 |
| — | Pogobrama Luo, 1995 |
| Pogonichty | Pogonichthys Girard, 1854 |
| — | Poropuntius Smith, 1931 |
| — | Probarbus Sauvage, 1880 |
| Procyprises | Procypris Lin, 1933 |
| — | Prolabeo Norman, 1932 |
| — | Prolabeops Schultz, 1941 |
| Flat-headed asps, red-finned asps | Pseudaspius Dybowski, 1869 |
| — | Pseudobarbus Smith, 1841 |
| False minnows | Pseudogobio Bleeker, 1860 |
| False abdomens | Pseudohemiculter Nichols et Pope, 1927 |
| Pseudo-books | Pseudolaubuca Bleeker, 1865 |
| — | Pseudophoxinus Bleeker, 1860 |
| — | Pseudopungtungia Mori, 1935 |
| Pseudorasbory, Amur chebakas | Pseudorasbora Bleeker, 1860 |
| — | Pteronotropis Fowler, 1935 |
| Ptychidia | Ptychidio Myers, 1930 |
| — | Ptychobarbus Steindachner, 1866 |
| Ptychocheilus | Ptychocheilus Agassiz, 1855 |
| — | Pungtungia Herzenstein, 1892 |
| — | Puntioplites Smith, 1929 |
| Puntius | Puntius Hamilton, 1822 |
| — | Qianlabeo Zhang et Chen, 2004 |
| — | Raiamas Jordan, 1919 |
| Rasbory | Rasbora Bleeker, 1859 |
| Rasborichts | Rasborichthys Bleeker, 1860 |
| Rasborins | Rasborinus Oshima, 1920 |
| — | Rastrineobola Fowler, 1936 |
| Rectors | Rectoris Lin, 1935 |
| American relic roaches | Relictus Hubbs et Miller, 1972 |
| — | Rhinogobio Bleeker, 1870 |
| Richardsonius | Richardsonius Girard, 1856 |
| — | Rohtee Sykes, 1839 |
| — | Rohteichthys Bleeker, 1860 |
| — | Romanogobio Banarescu, 1961 |
| — | Rostrogobio Taranetz, 1937 |
| Roach | Rutilus Rafinesque, 1820 |
| — | Salmostoma Swainson, 1839 |
| — | Sanagia Holly, 1926 |
| Sloth minnows | Sarcocheilichthys Bleeker, 1860 |
| Amur lizard minnows | Saurogobio Bleeker, 1870 |
| Sambva | Sawbwa Annetale, 1918 |
| — | Scaphiodonichthys Vinciguerra, 1890 |
| — | Scaphognathops Smith, 1945 |
| Rudds | Scardinius Bonaparte, 1837 |
| — | Schismatorhynchos Bleeker, 1855 |
| — | Schizocypris Regan, 1914 |
| — | Schizopyge Heckel, 1847 |
| False Ottomans | Schizopygopsis Steindachner, 1866 |
| Marinki | Schizothorax Heckel, 1838 |
| — | Securicula Günther, 1868 |
| Semilabeo | Semilabeo Peters, 1881 |
| — | Semiplotus Bleeker, 1860 |
| Semotilus | Semotilus Rafinesque, 1820 |
| — | Sikukia Smith, 1931 |
| — | Sinibrama Wu, 1939 |
| — | Sinilabeo Rendahl, 1932 |
| — | Sinocrossocheilus Wu in Wu, Lin, Chen, Chen et He, 1977 |
| — | Sinocyclocheilus Fang, 1936 |
| Sniderichts | Snyderichthys Miller, 1945 |
| Spiny Barbs | Spinibarbus Oshima, 1919 |
| — | Squalidus Dybowski, 1872 |
| Whiskered chubs | Squaliobarbus Günther, 1868 |
| — | Stypodon Garman, 1881 |
| — | Sundadanio Kottelat et Witte, 1999 |
| Tanakia | Tanakia Jordan et Thompson, 1914 |
| — | Telestes Bonaparte, 1837 |
| — | Thryssocypris Roberts et Kottelat, 1984 |
| Tinichty | Thynnichthys Bleeker, 1860 |
| Lini | Tinca Cuvier, 1816 |
| Torah | Tor Gray, 1834 |
| Toxabrams | Toxabramis Günther, 1873 |
| Far Eastern rudd, ugai | Tribolodon Sauvage, 1883 |
| — | Trigonostigma Kottelat et Witte, 1999 |
| — | Troglocyclocheilus Kottelat et Bréhier, 1999 |
| — | Tropidophoxinellus Stephanidis, 1974 |
| — | Typhlobarbus Chu et Chen, 1982 |
| — | Typhlogarra Trewavas, 1955 |
| Khramuli | Varicorhinus Rüppell, 1835 |
| Rybtsy | Vimba Fitzinger, 1873 |
| — | Xenobarbus Norman, 1923 |
| — | Xenocyprioides Chen, 1982 |
| — | Xenophysogobio Chen et Cao, 1977 |
| Yaoshanikusy | Yaoshanicus Lin, 1931 |
| — | Yuriria Jordan et Evermann, 1896 |
| Zacco | Zacco Jordan et Evermann, 1902 |
Features of lifestyle and behavior
Carps live in schools. Only larger fish stay apart, choosing deep places, but close to their relatives. They don’t like to leave settled places. While moving, they swim in a line consisting of fish of different ages.
Where are carp found?
The fish is heat-loving, so it is not found in the northern regions. The habitats of carp, like common carp, are temperate and southern latitudes:
- Ponto-Caspian-Aral region;
- Far East;
- Eurasia.
In 1970, silver carp were introduced into water bodies in the USA and Canada.
In Russia, carp lives in pools belonging to:
- Baltic;
- Japanese;
- Black;
- Caspian;
- Azovsky;
- Sea of Okhotsk.
Carp habitat
Freshwater fish live in a pond or in a weakly flowing lake, in flooded quarries, ponds, canals and reservoirs. Where carp live, reservoirs should have abundant vegetation on a soft, clayey or sandy bottom. For settlement, carp and carp choose places with warm water and a depth of 2-5 m. Large carp go to a depth of 10 m.
Carp is a cautious fish, so it does not live in open places with a flat bottom, but chooses areas with shelter. These are dense thickets, secluded holes, snags and bushes at the bottom. In winter, this fish gathers in schools, finding depressions, where they hide until spring, burrowing into the ground.
What do carp eat?
This is a voracious and omnivorous inhabitant of the reservoir. Before and after hibernation, it feeds more on animal food. In summer he switches to a plant-based diet.
Carp food includes:
- crustaceans and mollusks;
- fish and frog caviar;
- tadpoles with leeches;
- all kinds of insects with their larvae;
- flies, moths, worms;
- young shoots of aquatic plants.
Adults (large specimens) do not hesitate to eat even relatives and other neighbors in the pond, as well as frogs, crayfish, and try to grab birds landing on the water.
In times of famine, they feed on mucus that accumulates on plants and eat dung left by mammals.
Predatory fish or not
Carp is not an aggressive, calm and peaceful aquatic inhabitant, not a predator. Characterized by constant nutrition with increasing size. But some of the carp subspecies fight because they don't want strangers in their territory. Predators are distinguished by the fact that they hunt, and after eating the caught prey, they rest so that the food is digested.
Natural enemies
Large carp are rarely attacked; more often their eggs and juveniles suffer, which are eaten by green frogs. Also, it is a treat for crayfish, worms and other fish. Caviar washed ashore is destroyed by birds and other animals.
In addition, the fry are threatened by adult relatives, eating those who get in their way. And if caught, they themselves are eaten by a predatory pike or catfish. Man is also considered an enemy, destroying carp by catching fish.
Where is carp found, its habits
The structure of carp is practically no different from the structure of other cyprinids, but the way of life has certain features. The adaptation of carp to its habitat ensured the spread of the species on almost all continents of the globe in temperate and warm climate zones. You can meet one of the types of carp in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, flooded quarries, canals, sea bays at the confluence of rivers.
Favorite habitats: densely overgrown with algae creeks with a sandy or clay bottom, snags, thickets of coastal bushes. Carp are considered a heat-loving fish, so they prefer to stay at a depth of 2 to 5 meters in well-warmed water.
Fry and young animals gather in small flocks, while adults lead a more solitary lifestyle. Carp can form schools before the breeding season or in the fall before hibernation to collectively search for the most suitable places for spawning and wintering.
The body temperature of carp depends on the heating of the surrounding water; when the reservoir freezes, the vital processes of the fish slow down. It sinks to the bottom, lies in a secluded place and remains motionless for several days. In the winter months, the carp's body is covered with a thick layer of mucus; the fish finds a depression in the bottom, buries itself in sand and silt and remains in its shelter until the end of March and beginning of April.
Types of carp with photos
The genus of these fish unites more than 3 thousand species, including cultivated ones. But no more than 10-15 items are considered popular. Types of carp are often distinguished by color and arrangement of scales.
Common river
Common carp (carp) and its distinctive features:
- skin with a dense covering of large cycloid scales with dark edges;
- the body is elongated and raised higher than that of representatives of other species;
- golden or yellow-brown color dominates on the sides, the belly is widened and lightened, and the back is dark.
River common carp
It is considered a common hardy species and is used as a breeding base. This is how the mirror or scaly carp appeared.
Mirror carp
Sometimes called “German”, since it was in Germany that it was developed. Unlike the common one, this species has a round and massive body, with larger hard scales. Similar to small round mirrors, they are located only on the upper part of the body.
Based on the location of the scales, it is determined whether the carp belongs to the framed, scattered or linear subspecies.
Mirror carp
Instead of a golden color, sometimes there are individuals with brown sides. The fins are larger, but there are fewer rays. Mirror carp gain weight faster and feed mainly on cereals and shellfish.
Carp
To reduce the number of prolific, but small-sized crucian carp, a breed of carp carp was bred.
- They are hybrids, so they do not reproduce.
- The head and color of the species are similar to crucian carp, and the body is similar to river carp.
- No mustache.
The omnivorous breed is characterized by rapid growth (in 2 years - 2 kg) and valuable meat with a pleasant taste.
Karasekarp
Japanese Koi
Decorative goldfish were obtained in the 2nd century by crossing wild carp and local crucian carp. The inhabitants of aquariums are white, red, pink and spotted in color and reproduce independently. The length of individual koi representatives living in artificial reservoirs reaches 1 m, which are consumed as food.
Japanese koi carp
There are several species with different colors. In Japan, they were reflected not only in medicine, but also in art, symbolism, and became a folk tradition.
Koi color varieties
Golden carp
It is considered a large fish with a large and elongated body. The back, with serrated fins, is located high. The smooth scales are large, golden on the sides, dark on the back.
Golden carp are bred to decorate artificial ponds, so the color depends on the habitat.
On the large head there is a retractable mouth with a mustache and developed lips.
naked carp
This species is the result of further modification of the mirror carp.
- Naked carp have no scales at all, which is why they are also called leathery carp.
- But some large scales are found on the back and near the caudal fin.
Vulnerable fish. Intended only for artificial reservoirs. In addition, the new species has weak immunity and the fish often gets sick and is affected by parasites.
naked carp
Caspian carp
Another name is kutum, carp, belongs to the carp family, but to the genus roach. It is distinguished by its large size, prefers fresh water, but sometimes swims into the low-salt mouths of rivers flowing into the sea. The body length is up to 60 cm, the weight of this delicious fish reaches 6-7 kg (usually up to 2 kg).
Kutum
Siamese carp
The most numerous species, which is often called the giant longhorned beetle because it weighs 40, sometimes even 150 kg, lives in the Indochinese basins.
A peaceful omnivorous inhabitant of local waters, it feeds on plants, algae, fruits, cereals and phytoplankton. Longhorned beetles grow up to 3 m in length. The scales are large and hard - the color of the body is influenced by the surrounding nature.
Siamese carp
Royal
The rare King Carp is often confused with the Mirror species.
- The main difference is the large size. Thus, young delicious specimens weigh 3-5 kg.
- Large and thick scales, golden and silver in color, sparsely spaced, literally like small islands.
Parsky carp
The habitat of carp is central Russia and the Black Earth Region.
To obtain a domestic fertile species, a hybrid carp and a seaside carp are crossed.
Parsky carp
The new specimens have thick scales that are yellow in color, and individuals weigh 4-6 kg.
Beneficial features
Carp meat is a source of easily digestible protein, which competes with chicken, beef and salmon in terms of the amount of essential amino acids. Thanks to its rich ingredient composition, fish has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and atherosclerotic effects on the body.
Beneficial features:
- Increases blood circulation in the brain, stimulates DNA synthesis, normalizes energy exchange in tissues, and participates in the formation of myelin sheaths of neurons.
- Accelerates the elimination of toxins and waste, activates the digestive tract, improves nitrogen metabolism.
- Strengthens the walls of blood vessels, normalizes blood pressure.
- Accelerates wound healing, increases the lifespan of cells, stimulates one's own immunity.
- Helps reduce blood sugar levels and prevents hypoxia.
- Has an antiviral effect, neutralizes oxidative stress.
- Strengthens the heart muscle, reduces myocardial excitability.
- Participates in the metabolism of fats, stimulates the synthesis of enzymes and hormones, strengthens bone tissue.
- Improves the functional condition of cartilage, hair, skin, nails.
- Suppresses inflammatory reactions, reduces cholesterol levels, and prevents blockage of blood vessels.
However, despite its usefulness, carp is contraindicated for people suffering from bronchial asthma and allergies to seafood. In addition, fish grown under artificial conditions and containing dyes, antibiotics, and growth accelerators pose a danger to human health, in particular for pregnant and lactating women, children and the elderly.
Reproduction and spawning
Carp is a heat-loving fish; to spawn, it waits until the reservoir warms up to 18-20 degrees to a depth of 0.5-1.5 m. Then it chooses a shallow area in reed thickets. Here the female lays portions of eggs, with a total number of up to 1 million future fry, which appear on the 4-7th day. For the first 2-3 days they feed on the yolk of eggs, then they switch to feeding on zooplankton.
How to distinguish a male from a female
Male and female representatives of the species are distinguished only after reaching sexual maturity: males become adults after 2-3 years of life, females - 2 years later. The main difference is the size of the carp.
- Female specimens are 6-7 cm larger than male specimens. For spawning, males need their body to be at least 30 cm, and females - at least 37.
- In addition, the cheeks, back of the head, front fins and gill covers of males are covered with whitish warts.
- In some species, males and females differ in color and anal openings - in the female it is swollen, enlarged, oval in shape and red in color; the female genital opening is compared to a triangular fold.
- Also - by behavior - spawning females become warlike, and the laid eggs are guarded by “men”, becoming aggressive at this time.
Growth rate, average size and weight
First of all, the growth of carp depends on nutrition.
- By six months, the weight of constantly feeding fry already reaches 0.5 kg.
- Fish raised on special food weighs 8-10 kg by the age of 7 and reaches a length of half a meter.
- In a natural reservoir, the food supply is poorer, so wild carp gain such weight only by 14-16 years.
The second condition: the reservoir and its size.
- Large specimens will not grow in a small, unkempt pond.
The third factor is the presence of open water, where there is no crowding. Is it a lake or a river.
- Here you can find fish 150 cm long and weighing more than 25 kg.
How long do carp live?
The lifespan of these fish is directly affected by the environment in which they live. Carps grown artificially acquire better marketable condition after 2-3 years and are subject to harvesting. Wild representatives of the species, living in a natural body of water, live 30 years or more. This is influenced by water temperature and diet with the amount of feed.
Fishermen often come across 2-7 year old carp, weighing 1-6 kg. “Old men”, at the age of 45, are a rarity. The lifespan of decorative species is more than 100 years.
When does carp spawn?
The breeding season begins at the end of April-May. The water should warm up to a comfortable +18-20 degrees. If the year began with a cold, long spring, carp may come to spawn even in June. Sexual maturity in males and females occurs at the age of 4-5 years. It is not for nothing that carp are considered a very prolific fish: the eggs laid by one female in a season can contain up to a million eggs.
Cyprinids spawn in shallow water in thickets of reeds or algae. The eggs are laid in portions over several days and are fertilized by several males at once. Under favorable conditions, the fry appear on the fifth or sixth day. At first, they get everything they need for growth from the yolk sac, and then they switch to zooplankton.
CRUCCIAN
Interesting facts about carp, records
- Because the fish is unpretentious and does not pay attention to water pollution, and its main concern is food, its middle name is water pig.
- Japanese rice farmers were often unable to travel to buy food due to weather conditions. The lack of protein food was compensated for by farmed carp living in reservoirs, from which the plantations were watered.
- A 70-year-old Japanese man takes care of a carp that he inherited. The age of the fish is 105 years. The owner is offered large sums, but he categorically refuses to sell the pet.
Spreading
Thanks to breeding, carp is widespread in many reservoirs in Russia and abroad.
The distribution of carp in Asia Minor and Persia has not yet been studied, but it is found in huge numbers in the Aral Sea, in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya; There are no carp in Siberian rivers.
Carp distribution
Carp lives in ponds, lakes, oxbow lakes, quarries, stakes, and reservoirs. Carp prefers water bodies overgrown with aquatic vegetation with a slightly silted or hard, but not rocky bottom. Mainly stays at depth.
Fishing for carp
- Success awaits the fisherman in warm, stuffy and cloudy weather with a weak southwest or southeast wind direction.
- They also make sure to look at the atmospheric pressure, which should be low.
- The chances of catching a trophy increase during the early morning and evening.
- Places with cloudy water are preferable to places with clear water.
Sport fishing for carp is called “carp fishing”. This is trophy fishing, the main principle of which is catch and release. At the same time, great attention is paid to the safety of the fish: special hooks are used, methods of fishing, and even releasing the fish back into the reservoir is done as safely as possible for it. A mandatory attribute is to take a photograph with the trophy. Carfishing, although popular all over the world, is technically quite complex, which requires professionalism and investment from carp anglers.
Peculiarities
Carp is considered a cautious, cunning and unpredictable fish, moreover, strong and intelligent, which is not so easy to catch. To do this, you need to learn everything about carp, choose the right place to fish, select suitable gear, groundbait and bait (carp has a keen sense of smell).
It is easier to catch spawned animals because they are hungry, so they are less wary.
It's better to go catching when it's warm and quiet. In rainy, cloudy weather, carp feed at any time of the day or night. What makes catching fish easier is that it does not like to travel and prefers sedentary places.
Cool calendar, best period
- In winter, carp sleeps and wakes up hungry closer to May, when the water warms up to 10-12 degrees.
- Before spawning, it feeds, gaining strength.
- During the mating season and laying eggs, it goes hungry.
- In June, when the spawning ends, a round-the-clock fish feast begins. But in many regions, carp fishing is allowed only after 1.5-2 weeks.
- In July they behave calmly, and from August they begin to gain fat, preparing for winter suspended animation. At this time, the carp is actively hunting and is happy with any bait.
- It goes into hibernation more often in October - the biting stops.
Fishing methods, gear and bait
Carp are most often caught with a feeder, bottom or float rod.
More often they fish using the bottom method, because the fish’s favorite place to search for food is the bottom.
They lure with peas and corn or worms, bloodworms and maggots. Before throwing the bait, the area is fed with barley, peas and corn soaked for 12 hours. It is recommended to flavor the bait mixture with caramel, vanilla or garlic.
The carp that has swallowed the bait is pulled up carefully and slowly. At the same time, you should not interfere with its movement in a circle.
Predator or not
The carp fish, like its wild ancestor the carp, is not a predator, since it has no teeth. The river subspecies is popularly called the water pig, as it is omnivorous. There is almost always carp fish, even in the cold season, when its activity decreases. In warm weather, its diet is dominated by:
- plants;
- shellfish;
- crustaceans;
- insects, fish and frog eggs;
- leeches;
- water striders
The carp fish, or korop, as it is called in Ukraine, is not a predator, so it constantly feeds and grows for a long time, increasing in size. Predatory freshwater ichthyofauna always has teeth and after a hunt is in a state of rest, digesting the eaten prey, which cannot be said about cyprinids that live in freshwater bodies of water and prefer stagnant water.
Predators include the asp, which is part of the carp family of the order Cypriniformes. It has teeth located in the larynx and can feed on young fish. The predatory fish asp, like other carps, also feeds on aquatic plants and insects.
Scientists tell interesting facts about this fish. She eats only what she likes, sucking up the food first and then spitting it out, choosing only what she likes. A predatory fish with teeth never spits out food.
Fishermen also tell interesting facts about carp, which has excellent memory. He will give up his favorite food if he was caught eating it at least once and then got off the hook. This fact is confirmed by ichthyologists.
This fish is very popular in Southeast Asia. A number of researchers claim that it was bred in Ancient China and Ancient Rome. Today she is called the king of amateur and sport fishing.
Use in cooking
Fleshy fish from fresh water bodies have long been valued for their taste and benefits for the body.
Nutritional value of carp
100 g of this product contains no more than 112 kcal. Therefore, carp meat is an indispensable food for a gentle and dietary diet.
But, it is worth considering that a fried dish increases its energy value by more than 2 times. So those who are losing weight or who do not want to gain weight are advised to eat boiled, stewed or baked carp.
Chemical composition
The meat of river fish, including carp, is rich in minerals necessary for the human body: phosphorus and iron, magnesium, calcium and iodine. And also nutrients, vitamins B, A, C and PP, especially a lot of protein. In addition, carp meat contains proteins and a large amount of Omega-3 and 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Beneficial features
Carp do not feed on carrion; their menu consists only of algae, plants and shellfish, so the meat is clean and healthy and does not cause harm.
With regular consumption of fish dishes, bone tissue is strengthened, mental activity is normalized, and there are no disturbances in the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. There is a strengthening of the immune system, the appearance of strength and energy, as well as a slowdown in aging.
Harm and contraindications
Artificially farmed carp meat is not always beneficial. The reasons for this are different:
- The first thing you should pay attention to is that fish often contains parasites, so it is recommended to boil and fry the meat;
- due to high-calorie additives, harmful fat is added to meat and cholesterol, which is dangerous for humans, accumulates;
- treating fish with antibiotics remaining in the meat weakens human immunity;
- small bones are dangerous for the throat and sometimes injure the esophagus.
- Another danger of carp meat is an allergic reaction in people susceptible to such products.
Taste of carp
Commercially farmed carp are fed a healthy diet that contains fiber, protein and fat. But dietary supplements that accelerate growth, antibiotics, flavorings and food dyes spoil and worsen the taste of fish grown in fish farms.
In wild species, the meat is healthier, has a pleasant sweetish taste, is tender and juicy.
Is the meat bony?
Carp is not considered a very bony fish. The bones are large, but there are few of them. But some people consider the meat of this fish to be bony because of the occasional small bones.
Let's put it this way - when compared with sea fish, carp meat is bony, but among freshwater fish (which carp belongs to) there are few bones in it.
How to choose the right one in the store
When choosing carp or carp, it is recommended to give preference to fresh fish. Indicates freshness:
- difficult separation of bones;
- pulp elasticity;
- protrusion and transparency of the eyes;
- moisture of the scales, on which colorless and slippery mucus remains;
- The color of the gills is bright pink or bright red.
If the carcass is frozen, choose one with an even glaze, which means the freezing was done correctly. Dry freezing does not leave the glaze, but makes the fish look like a smooth stone.
The mirror view is considered the best for choosing carp. When choosing a carcass, they look at its cleanliness; 2-3 bloody marks are allowed.
The nutritional value
Carp meat has excellent taste characteristics: it has a pleasant sweetish taste, tender and juicy. In addition, fish is valued due to the low calorie content of dishes prepared from it and its rich biochemical composition. The nutritional value of carp is provided by Omega-3 and Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, phosphorus, iron, calcium, iodine, B vitamins, as well as A, C, PP, which are part of the meat.
Like other carp-like fish, carps have a fairly large number of small bones in their meat, which should be taken into account when preparing dishes. Carp is suitable for baking (both in foil and on the grill), frying and stewing. Cutlets, meatballs and meatballs are prepared from fish fillets.
Carp recipes
Carp is baked using foil or grilled, fried, stewed, boiled and pies are baked with it. Meat, cleaned from bones, is suitable for making meatballs, meatballs and cutlets.
Carp fried in a frying pan
- Clean and wash the carcass, cut off all excess and cut into pieces 1-5 cm wide.
- Salt, pepper and mix in flour. Fry in vegetable oil.
- Separately, over medium heat, fry onion half rings. Then pour in the fish pieces, turned over and fried for 5 minutes.
- Cover with a lid and simmer for 7 minutes.
- To serve, sprinkle with dill and lemon juice.
Carp in the oven
- The scales are removed from the fish carcass and washed thoroughly.
- Rub with a mixture of salt and pepper, then stuff with chopped herbs and garlic-sour cream sauce. Thin lemon slices are placed on top.
- Baking time 50-60 minutes. The result is a juicy and tasty dish.
Popular representatives
White amur
Grass carp is a herbivorous member of the carp family. Her favorite place is water overgrown with grass and reeds. The fish is a cleaner and can process up to 3 kg of grass per day. In Russia, it mainly lives in the waters of the Volga and Oka. Also found in the Amur and Yenisei rivers, and in the rivers of China.
Cupid breeds only in summer. The fish reaches sexual maturity at the age of 8-10 years. Fish spawn in clean water with fast currents. Prefers to lay eggs on hard bottom in shallow water.
List of distinctive features of White Cupid:
- elongated, laterally flattened body;
- short fins, large fins;
- large scales. The belly color is white. The back has a grey-ash color. The sides are silver with a yellow tint. The scales may have a dark olive tint.
Silver carp
A freshwater species of cyprinids, it belongs to the class of ray-finned fish. Silver carp has silver-colored scales. The length of the fish reaches 60 cm and weight 20 - 30 kg.
Initially lived in China and in the Amur River basin. During Soviet times it was introduced into many rivers. Today it is found in the Dniester, Volga, Kuban, Terek, Dnieper, and Aral Sea.
Silver carp meat is excellent as a dietary food. Contains many useful microelements, and low calorie content - 86 Kcal. For diseases of the cardiovascular system, it is useful to include meat in the diet. Thanks to the beneficial properties of meat, cholesterol and sugar are reduced and blood pressure is normalized. The meat has good taste, tenderness and juiciness; it can be boiled, fried, baked.
Vobla
Freshwater fish of the carp family. Inhabits the Caspian Sea and large rivers of its basin. Roach specimens are small in size. The length of an adult is up to 30 cm. Weight is about 200 grams. It belongs to the roach genus, so distinguishing roach from roach is problematic. It has flattened sides covered with silvery scales.
Vobla's diet depends on its habitat. They feed mainly on mollusks, crustaceans, worms, insects, and larvae. Fish spawn in spring at the end of April. The fish reaches sexual maturity at the age of 2 years.
Vobla is a commercial species. Gained the greatest popularity during the Soviet era. In conditions of the economic crisis, fish were sold en masse along with caviar and cervelat.
Vobla meat has a high protein content. The calorie content of meat is low - 95 Kcal. Contains B vitamins. Meat is indicated for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, as well as for people on a diet. Fish is not popular in home cooking. They prefer smoking and drying.
Chub
The freshwater species of carp is a predator. Habitat in Europe and Asia Minor. In Russia it lives in rivers of the European part. Prefers strong currents, hard or sandy bottom. It can also live in standing waters.
They lead a gregarious lifestyle. Larger individuals live in groups of several together. They can feed on small fish - minnows, bleak. It also feeds on a variety of animals:
- frogs;
- insects;
- shellfish;
- worms
Chub spawn when the water temperature reaches 17 C, usually from May to June. Females lay up to 150-200 thousand eggs. The fish reaches sexual maturity at 3 years of age, when the weight becomes at least 200 grams.
Chub meat is quite bony. Balyk is made from it, it is salted, dried, and smoked. You can make a delicious fish soup from chub.
Asp
A predatory species of carp. Habitat: rivers of Eastern Europe up to the Rhine. In Russia it is found in the basins of the Baltic, North and Black Seas.
The asp has a long body. The sides are grayish with a silver tint. The fins are gray in color, the ends of the fin are edged with a dark stripe. The asp's lips, like those of many carp species, are large and fleshy. The upper lip is shorter than the lower lip, this allows it to capture and hold prey.
The average weight of Zherekh is about 1.5 - 3 kg. The length reaches an average of 35-50 cm. Rare representatives grow up to 90 cm in length with a weight of up to 8 kg.
The predator leads a solitary lifestyle. The fish has no teeth so it feeds on small fish, worms, and insects. The asp crashes into the flock, striking hard with its tail, thereby stunning the prey. Can gather in flocks and hunt for food together.
Despite the low population, Asp is a valuable commercial fish. Asp's meat is tasty and tender, rather bony. In stores you can find fresh frozen meat, dried and smoked. Zherekh caviar is prized; it has an amber color. Caviar has a large amount of nutrients and beneficial substances for humans.
Gudgeon
Fish from the carp family. To date, 14 species of minnows are known. The most common is the common gudgeon. The fish is distributed throughout the basin of the North, Baltic, and White Seas. It is found in the Terek and Volga rivers, as well as in the North-Eastern regions of Europe.
Gudgeon is food for predators. The size of the gudgeon reaches 20 cm in length, with a weight of 200 grams. The fish feeds on foreign eggs, larvae, and small shells.
Fish spawn in April. It becomes sexually mature when it reaches 8 cm in length. Females lay eggs in a rocky-sandy bottom.
The meat is very tasty, tender with a sweetish aftertaste. Rich in nutrients. There are few bones on the sides, which is convenient during cooking. Gudgeons are used to make delicious fish soup; you can fry meat or make sauce.
Verkhovka
Verkhovka is one of the smallest fish of the carp family. Found in the rivers of the Rhine, Volga, rivers of the Caucasus, and Belarus. Lives in ponds, lakes, quarries. The fish leads a sedentary lifestyle, avoids currents, and prefers muddy bottoms.
The size of the fish is 8-9 cm. Lives up to 5 years. Weight up to 7 grams. Eats plankton and fish larvae. During the day it floats on the surface of the water, at night it sinks to the bottom. Spawns at the end of May - June, the second time in July. Becomes sexually mature at 2 years of age.
It has no commercial value due to its small size. The number of fish is quite high in the ponds. It is a food competitor to other commercial fish, eating zooplankton, so the presence of this fish in fish ponds is undesirable.
Gustera
A relatively small carp fish. It is distinguished by a tall body and large gray scales on the sides. The back is bluish-gray in color. The eyes are large relative to the size of the body. Externally similar to bream. It is distinguished by the presence of double-row pharyngeal teeth.
Lives in fresh water bodies of Europe. And also in the basins of the North, Baltic, Azov, Black and Caspian seas. Gustera does not like currents, prefers quiet, calm waters. Leads a gregarious lifestyle.
The fish lives no more than 15 years. Reaches a length of 35 cm and a body weight of about 1.2 kg. It feeds depending on the body of water. It feeds on larvae, mollusks, algae, and detritus.
The high bone density and small size of the fish do not make it popular in cooking. They prefer to dry and salt fish.
Barbus
Ray-finned fish from the carp family. Widely distributed in the aquarium hobby. Habitat mainly in the tropical part of the planet: southern Asia, India, Sri Lanka, found in equatorial Africa. Some species can be found in America, Cambodia, Australia, and Singapore.
The fish is unpretentious and small in size. Has a bright natural color. Depending on the species, fish may have one or more colors. Spots, longitudinal and transverse stripes may also be present.
The sizes of the fish vary from 5 to 35 cm. Life expectancy is 6-7 years. The barb has an elongated body and a pointed head. Often have four transverse stripes. The fins and tail are bright red. The lower fins are two-part.
Barbus leads a gregarious, active lifestyle and is very mobile. It is very popular in the aquarium hobby.
Features:
- unpretentious in maintenance and breeding;
- high activity of the fish poses a danger to the large fins of slower fish;
- They are schooling and actively interact with other fish.
Danio
A number of small ray-finned fish. Some of the breeds are widely used for aquarium breeding. Natural habitat is the waters of Southeast Asia. They prefer standing waters.
Danios have different colors depending on the species. There are many artificially bred decorative forms. A distinctive feature is the presence of antennae near the mouth.
They lead a gregarious lifestyle. The fish is very peaceful and does not like loneliness. Tolerates well in proximity to other non-aggressive fish species. They spend a lot of time in constant motion.
The fish is unpretentious in keeping. Therefore, it is recommended for those who want to try breeding fish. The fish feeds from the surface of the water and loves warm water and wide swimming areas.
Necessary conditions for breeding Danio:
- absence of large, slow and aggressive fish;
- feeding primarily from the surface;
- availability of large space for swimming;
- keeping in flocks of 10 - 15 individuals;
- the presence of open areas of the aquarium with good lighting.
Labeo
Fish of the carp family. Refers to decorative species. Natural water habitat of Southeast Asia.
In the wild they reach 18-30 cm. In an aquarium it is smaller - from 10 to 20 cm. Life expectancy is 5 - 6 years. It feeds on plant foods and algae. The appearance resembles a miniature shark. The main distinguishing characteristic is its color: dark body and bright red tail.
Breeding Labeo in an aquarium is quite difficult. Doesn't get along well with some species. Leads a solitary lifestyle. Can attack fish. It is not recommended to keep fish of the same color in the same aquarium; they will fight. Feeding with algae and plants is required. Loves dim light and wide open space in the aquarium.
There are practically no gender differences. Mature females have a more rounded abdomen. Not used for fishing. The species is listed in the Red Book.
Choosing a fishing spot
There are several rules by following which you can determine the best place for carp fishing.
- If there are a lot of quiet hunters in a pond, it is better to go fishing away from them. Frequent casting of the bait causes noise and scares away the fish.
- The place where the snags are located is a favorite area for carp. There is a lot of food, oxygen and the opportunity to hide from bad weather. But you have to be very careful - your tackle can get caught on a snag.
- No less “favorite” for carp are places where tree branches hang over the water. And here the fish feels protected from waves and bad weather, and can also eat plant seeds falling into the water.
- Wind is of great importance. Experienced fishermen believe that carp swim in the direction the wind blows. In such weather, it is best to catch carp from the shore in the place where food gets into the water.
You should pay attention to the appearance of bubbles on the surface of the water and the sounds of tail blows. Sometimes fish jump out of the water to get rid of parasites or simply because they are playing. These are signs of the presence of fish in a given place.
Carp fish - a delicacy of Chinese emperors
Carp is well known to fishing enthusiasts - it is an enviable trophy for hunting on the water. The lake dweller is also appreciated by gourmets for its nutritional properties and taste characteristics. This will be discussed further.
Even 2500 years ago in China, and then in Japan, they learned how to breed this productive fish; it’s not for nothing that the name’s translation means “fruit.” For hundreds of years, people have been catching carp in order to enjoy this wonderful fish.
