Carp Culture

Introduction Possibly the oldest form of aquaculture in the known world.Possibly the oldest form of aquaculture in the known world. Currently the largest (2/3 of ALL fish production is carp)Currently the largest (2/3 of ALL fish production is carp) The key species:The key species: –Indian Major Carps –Chinese Carps –Common Carp

Introduction Why carp?Why carp? Eat low on the food chain.Eat low on the food chain. Tolerate poor water qualityTolerate poor water quality Adapt to both alkaline and acidic water!Adapt to both alkaline and acidic water!

Broodfish Broodfish should be selected at 2-4 years of age.Broodfish should be selected at 2-4 years of age. Grown in ponds up to 1 to 10 acres (0.4 to 4 ha).Grown in ponds up to 1 to 10 acres (0.4 to 4 ha). Stock males and females at 1:1 or 2:3Stock males and females at 1:1 or 2:3 Preferred Temperature 27-32°C.Preferred Temperature 27-32°C. Hormone injection (hCG) and Ovaprim can be used to induce ovulation.Hormone injection (hCG) and Ovaprim can be used to induce ovulation. Expect ~250,00 eggs/quart of liquid during incubation.Expect ~250,00 eggs/quart of liquid during incubation.

Culture Methods Overall carp culture is similar to other warm water fish culture.Overall carp culture is similar to other warm water fish culture. Fry will go through a green water stageFry will go through a green water stage Densities of >500,000 fry/a (1.25 million/ha) are possible!Densities of >500,000 fry/a (1.25 million/ha) are possible!

Feeding Grass carp: can be reared on plants alone, but also perform well on pellets.Grass carp: can be reared on plants alone, but also perform well on pellets. Bighead are eat detritus and zooplankton in the wild, but also take to pellets!Bighead are eat detritus and zooplankton in the wild, but also take to pellets! Silver carp are primarily planktonivores.Silver carp are primarily planktonivores. Indian carps preffered planktonsIndian carps preffered planktons Detritus material used byDetritus material used by Cirrhinus and Common carp.

Yield? Carp ponds often yield kg./acreCarp ponds often yield kg./acre Often sold live or whole on ice.Often sold live or whole on ice.

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More on carp... Grass carp are a member of the Order Cypriniformes and Family Cyprinidae. Cyprinidae is the largest family of freshwater fish species and includes all the minnows and carps.Grass carp are a member of the Order Cypriniformes and Family Cyprinidae. Cyprinidae is the largest family of freshwater fish species and includes all the minnows and carps. Grass carp: Native to Asian rivers, but stocked widely across the US.Grass carp: Native to Asian rivers, but stocked widely across the US. Occasionally, carp will be named after the Amur River (white amur, river amur, amur fish, etc. as a marketing tool.)Occasionally, carp will be named after the Amur River (white amur, river amur, amur fish, etc. as a marketing tool.)

Diploid vs. Triploid? Normal grass carp have 48 chromosomes (diploid or 2N chromosome number.)Normal grass carp have 48 chromosomes (diploid or 2N chromosome number.) Sterile grass carp are heat or cold or pressure.Sterile grass carp are heat or cold or pressure. The resulting fish are triploids (3N) because each cell has an extra set of chromosomes.The resulting fish are triploids (3N) because each cell has an extra set of chromosomes. Triploids are infertile.Triploids are infertile.

Contd.. A group of carp that becomes equally or more important in aquaculture consists of five species popularly known as Chinese carps: the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), the silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), the bighead (Aristichthys nobilis), the black carp (Mylopharhyngodon piceus) and the mud carp (Cirrhina molitorella).A group of carp that becomes equally or more important in aquaculture consists of five species popularly known as Chinese carps: the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), the silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), the bighead (Aristichthys nobilis), the black carp (Mylopharhyngodon piceus) and the mud carp (Cirrhina molitorella).

Culture System Very popular polyculture system also originated with the culture of these species.Very popular polyculture system also originated with the culture of these species. They dont spawn naturally in ponds.They dont spawn naturally in ponds. Experience showed the compatibility of the species in ponds and higher production that farmer could obtained by combined culture.Experience showed the compatibility of the species in ponds and higher production that farmer could obtained by combined culture.

Feed The grass carp is herbivorous and feeds on macrovegetation including grass and aquatic plants.The grass carp is herbivorous and feeds on macrovegetation including grass and aquatic plants. The silver carp feeds on plankton, mainly phytoplankton.The silver carp feeds on plankton, mainly phytoplankton. The bighead consumes the macroplankton and the black carp feeds on snails and other molluscs at the bottom.The bighead consumes the macroplankton and the black carp feeds on snails and other molluscs at the bottom. The mud carp feeds primarily on detritus.The mud carp feeds primarily on detritus.

Contd.. The main interest of in Western Europe and USA has been in using the grass carp as a biological weed control agent, and the species has been introduced for this purpose.The main interest of in Western Europe and USA has been in using the grass carp as a biological weed control agent, and the species has been introduced for this purpose.

Eggs/Fertilization/Hatching Grass carp spawn naturally only in rivers with high water flows and appropriate temperature.Grass carp spawn naturally only in rivers with high water flows and appropriate temperature. Pond spawning does not take place.Pond spawning does not take place.

Feeding/Growth Grass carp consume vegetation intermittently at temperatures as low as 37 oF (3 o C).Grass carp consume vegetation intermittently at temperatures as low as 37 oF (3 o C). They eat steadily at 50 to 60 o F (10 to16 o C), with optimal consumption at temperatures between 70 and 86 o F (21 and 30 o C).They eat steadily at 50 to 60 o F (10 to16 o C), with optimal consumption at temperatures between 70 and 86 o F (21 and 30 o C).

Common Carp Family: CyprinidaeFamily: Cyprinidae Distribution: All over the world.Distribution: All over the world. Considered sport fish but mostly used as food fish.Considered sport fish but mostly used as food fish. Have three recognized varieties: orange color scale carp (C. carpio var. flavipinnis; the partially scales mirror carp (C. carpio var. specularis) and scaleless leather carp (C. carpio var. nudus).Have three recognized varieties: orange color scale carp (C. carpio var. flavipinnis; the partially scales mirror carp (C. carpio var. specularis) and scaleless leather carp (C. carpio var. nudus).

Contd…. Several strains of Common carp have evolved. A well known race is big-belly carp of China, hardy and starts breeding at the age of six months.Several strains of Common carp have evolved. A well known race is big-belly carp of China, hardy and starts breeding at the age of six months. The Japanese Yamato carp related to Chinese and the Punten carp of Indonesia is a quick growing race.The Japanese Yamato carp related to Chinese and the Punten carp of Indonesia is a quick growing race. Chinese developed an other very important strain known as Heyuan carp by crossing the female purse carp with the male yuanjiang carp.Chinese developed an other very important strain known as Heyuan carp by crossing the female purse carp with the male yuanjiang carp.

Contd.. The hybrid strain is reported to grow faster with larger weight and greater disease resistance to wild carp.The hybrid strain is reported to grow faster with larger weight and greater disease resistance to wild carp. Common carp is an omnivore and it feeds on a variety of plant and animal matter.Common carp is an omnivore and it feeds on a variety of plant and animal matter. The habit of sucking food organism in the mud on the pond bottom and margins makes the water muddy and weakens the base of pond dikes.The habit of sucking food organism in the mud on the pond bottom and margins makes the water muddy and weakens the base of pond dikes.

Indian Major Carps A third group of carp is the Indian carps: (Catla catla) rohu (Labeo rohita) mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala) and calbasu (Labeo calbasu).A third group of carp is the Indian carps: (Catla catla) rohu (Labeo rohita) mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala) and calbasu (Labeo calbasu). Addition of Chinese carps with Indian carps resulted in higher yields than from polyculture to Indian carps only.Addition of Chinese carps with Indian carps resulted in higher yields than from polyculture to Indian carps only. This combination of Indian and Chinese carps is referred to as composite carp culture.This combination of Indian and Chinese carps is referred to as composite carp culture.

Feed Catla is considered to be a surface feeder.Catla is considered to be a surface feeder. Larvae and young fry feed on planktonic unicellular algae.Larvae and young fry feed on planktonic unicellular algae. After reaching a length of about 2cm, the fry start feeding on zooplankton organisms and crustaceans.After reaching a length of about 2cm, the fry start feeding on zooplankton organisms and crustaceans. The adults feed on different types of algae.The adults feed on different types of algae. Rohu is a column feeder in ponds. Larvae and fry feed on unicellular algae and zooplanktonic organisms.Rohu is a column feeder in ponds. Larvae and fry feed on unicellular algae and zooplanktonic organisms.

Contd.. Adults feed on various types of vegetable matter including decaying aquatic plants and algae.Adults feed on various types of vegetable matter including decaying aquatic plants and algae. The adult mrigal is a bottom feeder.The adult mrigal is a bottom feeder. Larvae and fry have about the same feeding habits as other species but the adult fish feed on algae, diatoms, higher plants and detritus.Larvae and fry have about the same feeding habits as other species but the adult fish feed on algae, diatoms, higher plants and detritus. Calbasu is a bottom feeder, feeding on benthic and epiphytic organisms and debris.Calbasu is a bottom feeder, feeding on benthic and epiphytic organisms and debris. Larvae and fry feed on unicellular algae until they reach 2cm, and prefer phyto and zooplankton.Larvae and fry feed on unicellular algae until they reach 2cm, and prefer phyto and zooplankton.

Culture System Carps appears to be especially suited for pond culture.Carps appears to be especially suited for pond culture. Altough, other systems, in cages, rice fields and stocking in open waters, are carried out experimentally or commercially on small scale.Altough, other systems, in cages, rice fields and stocking in open waters, are carried out experimentally or commercially on small scale. Small ponds or pools with running water have been used in countries like Japan and Indonesia, for intensive culture of common carp.Small ponds or pools with running water have been used in countries like Japan and Indonesia, for intensive culture of common carp.

Contd.. As carps feeds on low trophic levels, are much suitable in earthen ponds which can be enriched with natural food through the addition of organic and inorganic manures reducing feed cost and contributes to farm economy.As carps feeds on low trophic levels, are much suitable in earthen ponds which can be enriched with natural food through the addition of organic and inorganic manures reducing feed cost and contributes to farm economy. Carps used in aquaculture are freshwater species, can tolerate salinities up to ppt, grow better at about 5 ppt.Carps used in aquaculture are freshwater species, can tolerate salinities up to ppt, grow better at about 5 ppt.

Contd… Common carp has been the main species for rice field fish culture but tilapia have replaced them in recent years.Common carp has been the main species for rice field fish culture but tilapia have replaced them in recent years. Cage culture of carps are experimental in nature but there is traditional common practice of growing in bamboo cages in Indonesia and Chinese lakes.Cage culture of carps are experimental in nature but there is traditional common practice of growing in bamboo cages in Indonesia and Chinese lakes.