Scale carp or [Scientific name: Cyprinus carpio var. communis] is a native species of temperate region of Asia, especially China. But now it is introduced as a cultivated carp species throughout the world. It is also known as scale carp this country. It is an omnivorous bottom dweller and decaying aquatic plant as well as vegetable matter.
It frequently burrows the pond bottom for searching food. This habit helps in the release of nutrients. At the some time it makes the water turbid and often damages the embankment (Rahman, 2005).
In tropical condition it attains sexual maturity within 1 year (Alikunhi, 1966). It spawns throughout the year in pond environment with two periods, one from January to March and the other during July to August. Spawning occurs in Shallow marginal weed infested areas. The growth of this carp differs greatly in accordance with temperature, availability of food, stocking density and supply of feed (Rahman, 2007). Common carp together with silver and grass carp are known as a sanitary fish, as they serves as biological control for maintaining the ecological balance in ponds (Santhanam et al., 1999).
References:
- Alikunhi KH, 1966. Synopsis of biological data on common carp Cyprinus carpio Linn. 1758 (Asia and Far East), FAO Fish Synops. 31(1): 1-77.
- Rahman AKA, 2007. Exotic Species and their impact on environment. In: Sixteenth Annual General Meeting and National Conference 2007. Keynote speech, 30 March 2007, Dhaka, Bangladesh. pp. 26-39.
- Rahman AKA, 2005. Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh (2nd ed.). Zoological Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. xviii+394 pp.
- Santhanam R, Sukumaran N and Natarajan P, 1999. A Manual of Freshwater Aquaculture. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India. 193pp.
Photo credit: Shams Muhammad Galib
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