Catla [Catla catla] is a cultured highly growing native major carp species of Bangladesh and distributed throughout India, Nepal, Pakistan and Myanmar. It is the natural inhabitant of principal rivers of this country and resides in fresh or brackish water, being found within the tidal influences (Day, 1958).
It inhabits surface dweller, mainly plankton feeder as well as omnivorous fish. Adult stage is predominantly zooplankton feeder, occasionally taking in decaying macro vegetation, smaller molluscs and similar groups. It is a cultured carp in everywhere in Bangladesh and easily reared in the deep water of the pond as well as similar water bodies. Its growth rate is more rapid in rice field than in tanks (Hora, 1951).
Its flesh contains 14.2% crude protein, 2-5% fat and 70% water and its liver oil contains 583 IU/g vitamin A (Bhuiyan, 1964). It attains sexual maturity in the second year of life. It naturally breads in rivers during rainy season and artificially breeds in under control condition in hatchery. Its fecundity generally varies from 1,00,000-2,00,000/kg body weight, depending on fish length and weight (FAO, 2009). Under composite carp cultured pond it as usually grows to be 600-700 g in a single year and 1-1.2 kg in first year in natural condition. Maximum recorded total length 182 cm and weight 38.6 kg (Fishbase, 2009).
Referances:
- Day F, 1958. Fishes of India (Vol. 1). William Dawson and Sons Ltd., London. 778pp.
- Hora SL, 1951. Fish culture in rice fields. Curr. Sci. 20(7): 171-173.
- Bhuiyan AL, 1964. Fishes of Dacca. The Asiatic Society of Pakistan, Dacca. 148pp.
- FAO, 2009. Cultured Aquatic Species Information Programme. In: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department [online]. Rome. Downloaded from http://www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Catla_catla/en on dated 04 August 2009.
- Fishbase, 2009. Species summary of Catla catla. Downloaded from http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=4439&genusname=Gibelion&speciesname=catla&lang=English on dated 04 August 2009.
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