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Common Carp Fish

Firas Abdul MalikFiras Abdul MalikM.Sc. Fish BiologyM.Sc. Fish Biology

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IntroductionCommon Carp - Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus (1758) is a

fresh water fish and it belongs to the Carp group. Its original home is China. In China, this fish has been cultured in ponds since many centuries. Today this fish has been distributed not only in the countries of Asia but throughout the world. The Common Carp is the most domesticated fish. Carp are a very strong and robust fish and can cope with many different types of water and temperatures. This adaptability accounts for their survivability when you consider all the different environments in which they are being kept or have thrived in, worldwide. They can survive temperatures ranging from (1-30)°C. (Chumchal, 2009).

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Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Cypriniformes

Family: Cyprinidae

Genus: Cyprinus

Species: Cyprinus carpio

Source: Chumchal, (2009).

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Comparative between cultured fishes

Type Survival rate

Carp 95% ±7.1

Catfish 77.6% ±12.1

Tilapia 57.5% ±38.9

Comparative growths of fishes

710.4 729.3

543.4

0.0

100.0200.0

300.0400.0

500.0

600.0700.0

800.0900.0

1000.0

Catfish carp tilapia

Fish species

Fin

al a

vera

ge

wts

(g

)

Table 1: survival rates for common farmed fishes

Figure 1: comparative growth of farmed fishes

Source: Chumchal, (2009).

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*Seabass, Seabream, Turbot, Tuna, Greater *Seabass, Seabream, Turbot, Tuna, Greater Amberjack, Striped seabass, Amberjack, Striped seabass,

Fish %

Carp > 50%

Tilapia > 5%

Salmon >5%

Shrimp > 3%

Trout > 2%

Catfish > 5%

Other fish

> 30%

Table 2: The ratio of carp against the farmed fish in the world.

Source: Boschung & Mayden, (2004)

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Species Length Weight

Common carp 120 cm90 cm56 cm

60 Kg

80 Kg

Silver carp 190 cm80 cm61 cm

35 Kg

Grass carp 160 cm100 cm49 cm

45 Kg

Black carp 180 cm 70 Kg

Bighead carp 150 cm 40 Kg

Source: Chumchal, (2009), fish researches center-Baghdad & Fish Project Archive.

Table 3. Length and weight of carps by species.

*(maximum length recorded in Iraq)*(maximum length recorded in Fish Breeding Project in Dohuk University)*(maximum weight recorded in Mosul Dam)

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Table 4. Habitat and diet preferences of Carps.

Species Temp. Salinity Oxygen Diet

Common carp 1-30°C 2.5 0.5 Zooplankton, phytoplankton, crustaceans, worms, insect larvae, seeds and algae.

Silver carp 6-28°C 4 0.5 Plankton

Grass carp 10-26°C 14 0.5 Vegetation & invertebrates

Black carp 25-30°C 2 Benthic invertebrates, zooplankton & small fish.

Bighead carp 4-26°C 8 0.5 Plankton

Source: Aitkin et al.(2008)

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Species Sexual Maturity Longevity

Carp (male) 2-4 years

1 year

50-70 years

Carp (female) 3-5 years

1-2 years

Silver 3–4 years 20 years

Grass 4–7 years 14 years

Black 6–11 years 16 years

Bighead (male) 2 years 18 years

Bighead (female)

3 years

Table 5. Age at sexual maturity and longevity by species of carp.

*(Sexual maturity in worm climates like Iraq) Source: Molnar, (2002)

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Time of Year April - June

Temperature Range 13-21oC

Water Depth <1.8 m

NH3 0.049-0.099ppm

pH 6.8 - 7.5

Current < 20 cm/sec

Egg type Adhere to the sides of aquatic plants

Number of offspring 300000 Eggs /Season (Average)

Time to hatching 4 days (high)

length Fry 6-7 mm, Fingerling 25-30 mm

Stocking Density 200-600 Fry/ m2, 5-10 Fingerling/ m2

Survival Rate Fry 40-70%, Fingerling 80%

Table 6. Carp reproduction requirements.

Source: Weimin ,(2005).

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The food Ingredients Table 7: Main food for the different age stages of carp.

Source: Chumchal, (2009).

Age stage Diet

Fry Zooplankton, phytoplankton, crustaceans.

Juvenile Worms, insect larvae, seeds, algae

Adults Worms, insect larvae, seeds, algae

Notes: opportunistic feeders, utilize any available food source, sucking bottom sediments while feeding.

Video 1: Showing the feeding habits of carp.

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Figure 4. Common Carp (Scaled variety).

Common carp types:Common carp types:

Cyprinus carpio communis

Scale carp: Has regular concentrate scales.(McCrimmon,1968;Grattidge,2006).

Source: Froese & Pauly. (2002).

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Figure 5. Common Carp (Mirror variety).

Cyprinus carpio specularis

Mirror carp: Has a large flashed scales randomly running along the side of the body in several rows. (McCrimmon,1968;Grattidge,2006).

Common carp types:Common carp types:

Source: Froese & Pauly. (2002).

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Figure 6. Common Carp (Leather variety).

Cyprinus carpio coiaceus

Leather carp: Has few scales on the back and a thick skin. (McCrimmon,1968;Jen,2003).

Common carp types:Common carp types:

Source: Lougheed, et al.( 1998)

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Figure 7. Common Carp (Linear variety).

Cyprinus carpio regularis

Line carp: a regular single mid-lateral row of scales and elsewhere none or only a few scales. (McCrimmon,1968;Jen,2003).

Common carp types:Common carp types:

Source: Froese & Pauly. (2002).

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Figure 8. Common Carp (Koi variety).

Cyprinus carpio koi

Ornamental carp :Nishikigoi strains were developed in Japan over the last two centuries (1850-1860), and may be red, white, gold or black. (Coad, 2005).

Common carp types:Common carp types:

Source: Froese & Pauly. (2002).

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Figure 9.Preferred variants of Japanese koi carp

Shiro-Utsuri Sanke Tancho-Sanke

Kohaku Asagi Hi-utsuri

TanchoShiro bekko Kujaku Shusui Unique Goshiki

Source: Nelson, (1984).

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Figure 10. Growth curves of the carp groups. Source: Molnar, (2002)

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1. Carps are tolerant and hardy fish that thrive in a wide variety of aquatic habitats.

2. Common carp are an important food and ornamental fish.3. Carps are an important food source, especially in countries or regions

with lower financial resources.4. Currently the largest (2/3 of all fish production is carp).5. Since living standards are generally increasing throughout the world,

carp culture may increase in importance.6. Provide Important protein source in many countries at affordable

prices.7. The oldest form of aquaculture in the known world is carp culture.

Common carp have been first fish species cultured in China about 500 BC.

8. The common carp was introduced in Iraq by unintentional release in 1955.

9. Over the last two centuries, ornamental strains (called “Koi”) were developed in Japan.

10. Common carp populate slow-moving waters, such as human-made impoundments and lakes.

Conclusions

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Video 2: Showing the baby duck feed the carp (Nishiki-Goi, Koi). Source: Molnar, (2002)

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Video 3: Showing that the Koi Carp came out of the water just for getting food.

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ReferencesReferencesAitkin, K. J., S. Lohr, P. Heimowitz, and M. Hill.2008. “Columbia River

Asian Carp Risk Evaluation." Report. US Fish and Wildlife Service.www.asiancarp.org/Documents/AsianCarp_PNWRiskEvaluation_022208.pdf.

Boschung , P., B. Mayden, 2004. "Effect of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) on Aquatic Restorations" (On-line). Accessed 2 April 2005 at http://www.hort.agri.umn.edu/h5015/00papers/baldry.htm.

Chamchal, M. 2009. Cyprinus carpio on line, Animal Diversity Web. Accessed May 16,2010 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cyprinus_carpio. html.

Coad, A. 2005, The Effect of Carp on a Small Lake: Carp as a Dominant. Ecology, 10: 271-274.

Froese, R., D. Pauly. 2002. "Fishbase: Species summary for Cyprinus carpio" (On-line). Accessed 2 April 2002 at http:// www.fishbase.org.

Grattidge, Julian. 2006. Northern Monkeys Forum topic: English or Foreign?URL:http://www.northwestcarp.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=100&page=2 (Accessed May7, 2007).

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Jen. 2003. List of Strains for Cyprinus carpio carpio. URL: http://wap.fishbase.org/physiology/strainlist.cfm?ID=1450 (Accessed May 6, 2007).

Lougheed, V., B. Crosbie, P. Chow-Fraser. 1998. Predictions on the Effect of Common Carp (-Cyprinus carpio-) Exclusion on Water Quality, Zooplankton, and Submergent Macrophytes in a Great Lakes Wetland. Can. J. Fish. Aquai. Sci, 55: 1189-1197.

McCrimmon, H. 1968. Carp in Canada. Fisheries Research Board of Canada.

Molnar, K. 2002. Differences between the European carp (Cyprinus carpio carpio) and the colored carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus) in susceptibity to Thelohanellus nikolskii (Myxosporea) infection. Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1581 Budapest, P.O. Box 18, Hungary. Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 50 (1), pp. 51–57

Nelson, J. 1984. Fishes of the World. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2nd ed..

Weimin M. 2005 June, Main academic guide for freshwater fishes culture. Lecture Outline. For 2005 IFF Course, fifth edition.pp:103.

ReferencesReferences

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