Mrigal inhabits river, tanks, haors, baors, beels, flood plain, ponds of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Myanmar and in south Asian countries. It is next in importance to Catla and Rohu for culture (Rath, 2000).
It is common cultured carp species in our country mainly bottom dweller, detrivorous and suitable for cultivation with surface and middle feeder carps in ponds. The stomach contents of this fish include algae 20%, bits of higher plants 30%, protozoan 15%, crustacean 25% and mud and sand 10% (Bhuiyan, 1964).
It is usually attains maturity 1 to 2 years depending upon the aquatic ecological condition of the water bodies. Mrigal is a highly fecund fish. Fecundity increases with age, and normally ranges from 1,00,000-1,50,000 eggs/kg body weight (FAO, 2009) whereas Rahman (1989) reported that gonad of 12 specimens measuring 480-840 millimeter in length contained 1,06,220-8,15,475 eggs. Natural spawning season of this species is monsoon and artificial breeding season is same to natural. It can be easily bred in hatchery by hypophysation. A large number of intergeneric hybrids have been produced at the central inland fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, India (Talwar and Jhingran, 1991).
Searching decomposing matter of the bottom as a food and as a result, it reduces water pollution and increase water quality.
The maximum recorded age 12 years, standard length 100 cm and weight 12.7 kg (Fishbase, 2009).
References:
- 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/Cirrhinus_mrigala/en on dated 04 August 2009.
- Fishbase, 2009. Species summary of Cirrhinus cirrhosus. Downloaded from http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=4494&genusname=Cirrhinus&speciesname=cirrhosus&lang=English on dated 04 August 2009.
- Rahman AKA, 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh. Zoological Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. xvii+363 pp.
- Rath RK, 2000. Freshwater Aquaculture (2nd Ed.) Scientific Publications (India). 445pp.
- Talwar PK and Jhingran AG, 1991. Inland Fishes of India and Adjacent Countries (Vol. 1 and 2). Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., India. 1158pp.
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