Fish of the Karpov family: list and varieties, descriptions and characteristics
The history of the development of fish from the Karpov family started even before the start of the Ice Age. Archaeologists have found fossils of these individuals in many corners of the Earth. Now the family includes 367 genera and more than 3 thousand species. At the same time, individuals are characterized by specific features and differences that affect size, diet, lifestyle and much more.
Family description
Cyprinids belong to the family of ray-finned fish, which includes more than 3 thousand samples of different breeds. These are predominantly commercial breeds, which are massively caught in the basins of the Azov, Aral, and Caspian Seas.Carp fish are considered popular for various reasons. Their meat is easily digestible and includes a minimum of bones. The indisputable advantage of such individuals is ease of processing.
Habitat
Representatives of the considered family live in freshwater reservoirs. However, some species are easily kept in sea water. Such fish are mainly considered thermophilic, but they are able to adapt to different temperatures. Therefore, depending on the season, cyprinids live at different depths.
Such fish are often found in the waters of North America, Africa, Asia and Europe. The only exception is South America. There are also cyprinids in Australia, although they only came to the continent at the end of the nineteenth century.
It is noteworthy that fish that live in sea water move to spawn in fresh water. Females often lay their eggs on algae leaves. They also use flat stones and even bivalve shells for this purpose.
What do Cyprinids eat
Cyprinids don't have special dietary preferences. At the same time, they are characterized by seasonal voracity, which occurs in spring and summer. With the onset of the cold period, the need for excess food decreases.
In the diet of the Karpovs, there are both plant and animal foods. Such individuals feed on insects, algae, small fish. They also consume benthic organisms. In hungry times, fish can eat carrion from the bottom of the reservoir and even their own fry. The undemanding nature of Karpovs to nutrition facilitates the process of their breeding.
Representatives of the family
Cyprinids stay in flocks during birth and growth. As they develop, they form smaller groups. At the same time, adults prefer to lead a lonely lifestyle. Under natural conditions, the maximum activity of fish is observed in the warm season - from late April to September.At the same time, such individuals demonstrate the highest nutritional need in June. At this moment, after a long winter stagnation and spring spawning, individuals begin to feed around the clock.
In their natural habitat Cyprinids can grow to impressive sizes. Officially recorded fish weighing up to 50 kilograms. Another feature is that carps are considered centenarians. Under natural conditions, they live up to 40-50 years. In an artificial environment, this figure increases to 100 years. Below is a list of the most famous members of the family.
Carp and carp
Carps are called fish that are grown in reservoirs. At the same time, wild carps belong to carps. Both species are considered freshwater. They are characterized by active growth and reproduction. These types of fish are characterized by excellent taste and tender meat.In addition to commercial value, such individuals are considered objects of sports and amateur prey.
Gudgeon
If we consider visual signs, the gudgeon is characterized by a small fleshy body and antennae. This fish is not commercial. It often becomes an object of food for predators. Minnows live in warm lakes and rivers, which are characterized by a moderate current. In this case, the question often arises, what types of minnows exist. These include the following:
- common – most common;
- real;
- pseudorasbora - reaches a length of 10 centimeters, lacks antennae, and large scales cover the body.
Minnows reach a length of 22 centimeters. They are distinguished by a dark body color with a greenish tinge. There are small dots on the fins. The diet of minnows is based on invertebrates and caviar of other fish.
Bream
This is a common variety that has commercial value. Breams have a unique appearance. Thanks to this, an adult can be easily distinguished from a young one. The length of the bream reaches 0.8 meters. At the same time, its weight does not exceed 6 kilograms.
The bream differs from other fish in its high body. Usually the height reaches a third of the total length of the body. In addition, this fish has a small head. On the back is a short and high fin, which includes a dozen soft rays.
The bream is considered a cautious and shy fish that has excellent hearing. This feature must be taken into account when fishing. This representative of the Karpovs is found in lakes and rivers. It can also be found in reservoirs. In rivers, this fish can reach enormous sizes. The bream prefers to stay in flocks, in which there are representatives of different ages - from the smallest to the largest.
In addition to small crustaceans, bream feed on bloodworms that live in the bottom soil. Since this fish has rather weak pharyngeal teeth, it prefers benthic invertebrates and crustaceans. In addition, bream actively absorb aquatic vegetation.
Chub
This type of Karpov lives in the Euphrates and Northern Dvina. Also, one of the subspecies of the chub is found in the Caucasian reservoirs. The fish does not exceed 80 centimeters in length. Moreover, its weight is 8 kilograms. The dorsal part is dark in color. In addition, the fish has silvery sides and orange fins of a reddish hue. The chub is characterized by a wide head.
This fish lives in waters with strong currents. It is very rare in stagnant waters. The chub is considered an omnivore. It does not apply to commercial species, but is often used in sport fishing competitions.
Vobla
This small commercial fish from the Cyprinidae family lives in river estuaries and in the Caspian Sea. The maximum length of the roach does not exceed 40 centimeters, and the weight is up to 1 kilogram. This fish feeds on small invertebrates. Also in her diet there are crustaceans and worms.
Vobla fins are distinguished by a reddish tint with a dark border around the edges. It is characterized by small fins and a mouth. In this case, the eyes are distinguished by a silvery or orange iris. There is a noticeable padding on the back. At the same time, the body itself is slightly flattened.
Silver carp
This kind of carp lives in fresh waters of Asia. Silver carp is also found in the north and northeast of America and New Zealand. A distinctive feature of this fish are considered low-set eyes. She also has a raised mouth, which is characterized by an inverted shape.
Young individuals are distinguished by a light silver color. At the same time, adult fish have a silvery tummy and a greenish back. The silver carp is characterized by small scales and sharp spines in the caudal and dorsal fins. Young fish feed on zooplankton. As the carp grows, it begins to eat phytoplankton.
Through the gills, the fish is able to filter the smallest particles of detritus. Due to this, it can act as a reservoir reclamator. To digest a lot of algae, the fish has a very long intestine, which is 10 times the size of its own body.
White Cupid
These adult representatives of the Karpov family are able to absorb a lot of vegetation. In a short period of time, grass carp can eat as much algae as it weighs itself. Because people often use this fish to clean canals and reservoirs.
In the second half of the last century, these individuals were launched into a large number of reservoirs in Eastern European countries that suffered from an excess of algae. The fish have adapted well to new places. At the same time, low temperatures prevent its spawning in these areas.
Grass carp is considered a cautious fish, which can be very difficult to catch. Only top dressing will help in this. The fish lives well in small reservoirs and can reach large sizes.
An adult can grow up to 120 centimeters in length. With its average weight is 30 kilograms. The grass carp is characterized by dense scales and a rather wide forehead. Light fins are located on the sides of the body. At the same time, they are characterized by darker shades on the back and abdomen. The body of the fish itself can have a different color - from golden to greenish.
Verkhovka
This small fish belongs to the Carp order. Its size does not exceed 5-7 centimeters. The top is characterized by an elongated body and a light color with dots. This individual prefers clear waters. It belongs to predators and feeds on small beetles and insect larvae. In water bodies, the verkhovka tries to stay closer to the surface. This is her main difference from the rest of the family.
Rudd and Roach
The rudd is a small fish from the Karpov family. She received this name because of the special color of the fins. These individuals are found in the backwaters of large and small rivers, which are characterized by a small current. Rudd also lives in ponds and lakes, which are densely overgrown with reeds. This fish does not tolerate fast and clean water, therefore it cannot be found in mountain rivers with a high oxygen content.
By visual signs, rudd is often mistaken for roach. However, these fish are characterized by noticeable differences:
- rudd's eyes are distinguished by an orange border, which cannot be said about roach;
- the color of the rudd's fins is more pronounced;
- rudd's body is abundantly covered with mucus;
- rudd is characterized by smaller scales.
Roach is considered less demanding in terms of living conditions. It is found ubiquitously in water bodies. Usually the amount is quite large.
Guster
This fish is considered undemanding to nutrition, so it is not difficult to catch it. Gustera is small in size. Its maximum weight is 1.5 kilograms. This fish is found in warm European waters. She tries to stay closer to the bottom and hides behind the roots of shrubs and thickets of algae. This species is often found in the lower reaches of rivers, where the current becomes less intense.
Algae and insects are considered the basis of the diet of the silver bream. By visual signs, it resembles a bream. The body of this fish is elongated and flattened. However, it has a relatively small head. On the back of the bream is a long fin. Also, the fish is distinguished by large light-colored scales.
Asp
The main types of asp include the following fish:
- ordinary or European - found in European countries;
- red-lipped - lives in the reservoirs of the South and Middle Caspian;
- Aral - inhabits the Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers.
A characteristic feature of this fish is the absence of a stomach. Instead, an empty tube runs from the mouth all the way to the tail. Therefore, the food eaten by asp immediately enters the intestines. There it is digested much faster. This arrangement of internal organs speeds up the metabolic process.Because asp constantly eats. At the same time, the predator absorbs not only small fish, but also other animal food.
The distinctive features of this fish include a gray-blue back, white belly and silver-gray sides. The tail and dorsal fins are grey. In this case, the tips are characterized by a dark color. The bottom of the fins is slightly longer than the top.
At a young age, asp mainly absorbs worms and insects. It also eats small crustaceans and other small animal food. When individuals reach 30 centimeters, they turn into classic predators. During this period, the asp begins to hunt fry of roach and bream. At the same time, he continues to absorb worms and other animal food.
Carps for aquariums
Aquarium individuals from the Karpov family are also popular with amateurs. They are often bred by breeding methods, but there are fish that breed in nature and easily adapt to life in a limited space.
Botsiya
This fish is characterized by a bright color. In nature, it can reach impressive sizes. This should definitely be taken into account by breeders. To breed botia, you will need a medium or large aquarium. The fish is often called the clownfish. This is due to the peculiarities of color and playful character.
Barbus
A total of 15 varieties of these fish are known. Barbus prefers to eat tubifex and bloodworms. Also in his diet may be present plant foods. This fish gets along easily with other individuals.
Algae eaters
This representative of the Karpov family is characterized by its small size. It is very popular with people who have home aquariums. These fish feed on harmful algae. Thanks to this, they contribute to the purification of space.
Labeo
This small representative of the Karpov family in captivity is capable of reaching a length of 12 centimeters. He eats any food and communicates well with other inhabitants of the aquarium.
Danio-rerio (brachydanio-rerio)
This variety is well tolerated by the genetic changes that are made in the selection process. This greatly affects the visual characteristics of the fish. Danio rerio is characterized by small size and does not exceed 5 centimeters in length. This subspecies of Carp for the aquarium has many varieties. Among them, it is worth highlighting the following types:
- Chopra;
- cherry;
- pearl;
- rerio;
- leopard.
Split
This representative of the family belongs to small tropical fish. Such individuals are found in warm fresh waters, forming flocks. They can be safely bred at home. Rasbora is easy to care for and maintain.
Goldfish
This is the most famous carp fish suitable for aquariums. Now there are many types of goldfish. They easily get along with other inhabitants of aquariums. Goldfish eat detritus and plant foods.
The Karpov family is considered extensive and includes many representatives. They differ in a number of ways - visual characteristics, lifestyle, dietary habits.
