Carp (gyprinus Carpio)
The domesticated carp displays a number of variations in the nature of the scale covering of its body. The most common pond variety is the mirror carp, whose body is irregularly covered with scales of different sizes. Another variety has a row of scales along the sides of the body and sometimes a similar line of scales on the base of the dorsal fin, whilst the leather carp either has no scales at all or only a few individual scales below the dorsal fin and along the base of other fins.
The carp is a most valuable fish, which is readily appreciated also by anglers, on whose behalf it is stocked in open waters. The ponds used for carp breeding are looked after in the same way as fields or other agricultural areas. The rapid development of large quantities of fish food, which will ensure the fast growth of the carp, is achieved by letting the water out of such ponds in summer, by cutting back undesirable growths of vegetation, by fertilizing the land with organic and inorganic fertilizers and by chemically improving the quality of the water when the pond is refilled.
Carp are introduced to rivers and valley reservoirs either as fry when they weigh a mere 30 to 50 g or when they are a year old and weigh 200 to 500 g.
Cyfirinidae
Maximum size and weight:
120 cm, 30 kg.
Identifying characteristics : Large scales, long dorsal and short anal fins. Mouth has four fleshy barbels.
