The pond size is usually 0.07-0.2 ha and 1.5-2.0 m deep. The major system used for rearing crucian carp is earthen pond culture, but rice paddies are also used in some areas of China.Įarthen ponds are used for both spawning and nursing of crucian carp. Crucian carp is a medium-size fish with a moderate growth rate that can reach 1.25 kg. The presence of aquatic weeds is also important for spawning they serve as the substrata for the eggs, which are adhesive. Rainfall, water level and temperature changes are the stimuli for reproduction. In addition, in aquaculture, they well accept artificial feed, such as by-products from grain processing and oil extraction, and pelleted feed. However, the fry/larvae feed on zooplankton.

Crucian carp is basically an omnivore that naturally feeds on organic detritus, filamentous algae, small benthic animals, and pieces and seeds of aquatic weeds. They are sedentary fish, which can propagate naturally in various types of water bodies, such as rivers and lakes. Comparatively, they can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. They normally dwell in the bottom layer of the water column. The major producer has always been China, whose production has expanded from less than 2000 tonnes in 1950 to nearly 1.7 million tonnes in 2002 (99.6 per cent of the global total).Ĭrucian carp is a freshwater fish that inhabits lakes, rivers and reservoirs in various countries in Asia and Europe.

Since then it has gradually expanded to many other countries and regions, including Taiwan Province of China, Belarus, Republic of Korea, and Uzbekistan.

Aquaculture of this species was limited to China and Japan until the mid-1960s. However, production was limited to a rather small scale. The earliest activity can be traced back to the East Han Dynasty (25-189 A.D.), according to archaeological studies, to the Song Dynasty (960-1279 A.D.) and according to written records. The culture of crucian carp was initiated in China. Tip of pectoral fin can reach the base of ventral fin dorsal fin ray: 3, 15-19 pectoral fin ray: 1, 16-17 ventral fin ray: 1, 8 anal fin ray: 3, 5 body colour: silvery grey, deeper colour in dorsal portion, lighter colour in abdomen colour of fins: greyish. Body laterally compressed and thick, round abdomen standard length 2.1-2.8 times body height and 3.1-4.1 times head length length of head larger than body height small and short head short snout terminal mouth and arch shaped lower jaw slanting upwards slightly thick lip no palpus 37-54 gill rakes on the first outer gill arch, gill rake long one row of pharyngeal teeth on each side, laterally compressed, formula 4-4 27-30 scales in lateral line.

Skin crucian carp fishing