Silver carp: how it looks and where it lives, what it eats, spawning and breeding in the pond

White or common silver carp is a fish of the carp family. Under other names it is known as silver carp, bighead and silver carp. It is found in fresh waters of Europe and Asia. This large fish is of great importance as an object of commercial fishing and fishing, and it is also popular among anglers. Consider in detail the way of life of the silver carp, its types and other interesting features.

Description of the fish

This is a schooling fish of the carp family. She is known for her strength, speed and agility, making her an exciting target for adventurous fishermen.

When released into artificial aquaculture ponds, the silver carp helps ensure the water is clear and free from algae blooms.

Looks like

The silver carp has a large skull with an extended forehead, which is how it got its name. It has a thin, pointed dorsal fin and a large anal fin. Bighead is distinguished by its size and pronounced physical features:

• eyes set low on the head;
• no mustache;
• a mouth that looks "upside down" .

Silver carp is the only fish with a mouth above the eyes.

Shade of scales in different species sometimes differs, but usually the color is silver, darker near the back and lighter around the belly. As fish age, their coloration changes; in older individuals, as a rule, the back acquires a greenish tint.

The fish has a big mouth without teeth with massive lips. Such a structure was developed during evolution, because the silver carp feeds exclusively on phytoplankton.

Bighead reaches an impressive size - one meter in length and weighs up to thirty kilograms, and some individuals can even grow up to one and a half meters with a weight of fifty kilograms. This makes catching such a huge specimen a welcome experience for any angler.

Silver carp has a fast growth rate. In an ideal environment with abundant food, he intensively builds weight. Consequently, young individuals, under favorable circumstances, reach one and a half kilograms of weight by two years; at five or six years old, these fish reach their maximum weight and length, after which growth stops.

At three years old, silver carps usually grow up to thirty to sixty centimeters in length and weigh two to four kilograms.

Wherever it is found

Bighead is a freshwater fish native to North and Northeast Asia. She was brought to Europe for the purpose of artificial breeding.

This fish is attracted to calm pools of stagnant water. During daylight hours, it usually stays at a shallower depth, where loud sounds from the surface are not heard. At night, she returns to the coastline in search of food.

The maximum preferred water temperature for silver carp is between 20-25°C, so the fish tend to stay in the middle layers of the water, and do not swim closer to the bottom, where the temperature is colder. At night, silver carps usually congregate in shallow areas where the water has warmed up during the day. Silver carp also prefer habitats with soft muddy bottoms and high vegetation cover. Experienced anglers successfully use this knowledge to pre-determine likely fishing spots.

Lifestyle

The key thing to know is that silver carp are not solitary creatures. Rather, they tend to congregate in small flocks. Their groups usually consist of fish of different ages and sizes.

When going fishing, it is recommended to look for silver carp in calm waters that are not near major roads or places with loud city sounds - bigheads are not found in "noisy" waters.

The bighead can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, from 0 to 40 degrees Celsius, as well as low oxygen levels and slightly s alty water.

Fish behavior changes with the season:

1. In autumn, when the water temperature drops below eight degrees, the silver carp gains a layer of fat.
2. In winter, he hibernates and looks for places for her at the bottom of reservoirs.
3. In the spring, after waking up with an abundance of plankton in the water, he looks for food in deep waters, and then, when the temperature reaches twenty-four degrees, he rises higher to the surface. During this period, the fish is easy to catch due to its strong hunger, as it will throw itself at anything that even remotely resembles food. By the end of May, fishermen catch silver carp with just a piece of cigarette filter or foam rubber.

In optimal conditions, fish can live for two decades. However, in commercial breeding, this is not financially profitable, so the fish is sent to store shelves at the age of two or three years, when its size becomes sufficient.

The two most common diseases among silver carps in their natural habitat are pseudomonosis and diphyllobothriasis.

The first disease leads to local bleeding on the skin and quickly spreads through the population, leading to the death of entire groups of fish.The second is a parasitic disease that occurs due to the infection of fish with a wide tapeworm. Eating undercooked or raw contaminated fish poses a risk to human he alth.

Spawning

The silver carp reaches sexual maturity and is ready to breed at the age of two to four years. At this point, the fish have grown enough to easily reach the spawning ground.

Silver carp spawning begins when the water temperature rises to a suitable level in early summer. If cool days come, spawning will be delayed by two to four weeks. These fish prefer rivers with muddy water for breeding. To find a suitable place, they begin to migrate. During this time, they sometimes move to considerable distances from their usual habitat.

Fish that are in the process of spawning are easy to identify by their color. During this period, the scales look bluish-gray.

Bighead carps choose shallow, grassy, sunlit water bodies for spawning, in such places it is best to save offspring. The eggs do not attach themselves to any vegetation, but instead float on the surface of the water. As a result of being almost invisible among vegetation, they are protected from being eaten by birds and other fish.

One female produces up to half a million eggs, and in a week fry already appear from them. In the early days they consume zooplankton as their mouth is not yet fully developed. After four days, they become able to digest plant foods, but still prefer animal proteins for a while.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionSurprisingly, despite the nature's mechanism of "camouflage" of eggs, the survival rate of fry is quite low.Of the five hundred thousand eggs laid by a female, ninety-three percent will die within the first ten days. Of the remaining fry, only four percent will survive to adulthood.

Natural Enemies

Silver carp is a fish of impressive size, while it behaves extremely wary, however, it has many enemies in its natural habitat. The most common of them is the pike, which likes to feast on silver carps of all ages.

Fry are in danger from birds and large perches, for which they are a favorite delicacy.

Silver carp, becoming an adult, can itself lead to a violation of the ecosystem of the reservoir. This is because, due to its indefatigable appetite, the silver carp consumes all types of plankton, leaving no food for other fish.

However, it is people who are primarily responsible for the decline in the number of this fish. This is due to its commercial overfishing.

Types of fish

There are three types of silver carp, each of which stands out for its physical characteristics, catering and size. In addition, there are large differences in growth rate and weight.

White

The white bighead is easy to distinguish by its shorter length and pale scales, almost resembling silver in color. This river species has a large body with a voluminous head. Its main diet consists of phytoplankton, since the structure of the gills does not allow it to consume zooplankton. Due to the lack of animal protein in the diet, this species is smaller than the variegated variety. Its length reaches 100 cm, and the maximum weight is no more than twenty kilograms.

The white variety of silver carp is especially beneficial for artificial reproduction due to the composition of its meat. Fillets are high in fat, making them an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Colorful

The variegated silver carp, also known as the southern bighead, is notable for its considerable size and weight. Its gill plates are designed in such a way that it is able to feed on zooplankton, which allows it to grow to an impressive size.

This silver carp has a big head and an elongated tail. The scales of the fish are predominantly dark, almost black in the upper part of the body. It is lighter on the sides, but interspersed with dark spots, which led to the name of the species. Juveniles tend to be pale in color, more like gold.

The bighead motley is able to withstand a wide range of temperatures, from 0° to 36°C. It reaches 100-150 cm and weighs up to sixty kilograms. Due to its ability to improve water quality, this species has become a popular and economically important choice for raising fish in artificial ponds.

Hybrid

This subspecies of bighead is a hybrid created by crossing white and variegated varieties of silver carp. He inherited the best traits of both species, including:

• ability to gain weight quickly;
• to withstand temperature changes;
• consume phytoplankton;
• tolerate cold temperatures while staying active and preserving nutritious and tasty meat.

Its characteristics make it possible to breed this type of silver carp for agricultural purposes in areas of the cold climate zone.

Similar fish

The bighead has many characteristics similar to other cyprinids, the main one being its large body. However, there are clear differences between them, both in appearance and in the taste and composition of the meat. It is especially important to consider them when planning fish breeding in artificial reservoirs.

Cupid

The main difference between these two types of fish is their ventral keel.The carp has a long keel, it starts at the throat, while in the silver carp it stretches from the pectoral fins. Cupid is easily recognizable by its elongated body and large scales, as well as by its larger size in general.

Cupid eats only vegetation that grows at the bottom of the reservoir. Its flesh is considered juicier and more tender than that of the silver carp, and it also has fewer bones. Both species have similar habits when it comes to spawning and life principles.

Carp

The physical structure of carp and silver carp is somewhat different. Carp are characterized by:

• not as big as a silver carp's head;
• fusiform body;
• large scales, but they are all the same color.

The carp's mouth shape is adaptive and its mouth can be expanded, making these fish omnivores. The meat of this species is tender and has a pleasant taste.

How to breed silver carp

Silver carp is a fastidious fish that needs special conditions for breeding. The temperature is especially critical for him. Silver carp loves warmth, so the temperature in the pond should be at least 25°C. This should be taken into account when breeding in Russia. Bighead fish also have water depth requirements. A depth of three to four meters is suitable for her.

It is important to adhere to certain recommendations when breeding in an artificial pond in order to achieve the desired results. It is important to meet the needs of fish in space and oxygen. The pond must have an area of at least two hundred square meters, even if it contains a small amount of fish, while there should be no more than nine hundred individuals per hectare.

To prevent mass diseases, it is recommended to divide the inhabitants of the pond into age groups. Plant diversity should be provided in the pond to provide a good source of food; and certain areas are allocated for spawning.The water temperature in the pond should not fall below eighteen degrees.

It is important to constantly clean and disinfect ponds to prevent fish diseases. Keeping fish in the pond for more than two or three years should be avoided, as it will not be possible to recoup the costs in this way.

Obviously, there are many subtleties associated with keeping and breeding silver carp in a pond, but it is important to follow the basic principles.

The main food in the silver carp's diet is phytoplankton, which leads to water blooms. In order for the fish not to starve, there should be an abundance of bottom and high vegetation in an artificial pond. When introducing fish to the pond for the first time, feed them until they become accustomed to the conditions. After maturation and under favorable pond conditions, such as optimal temperature and presence of vegetation, the bighead does not need top dressing.

The main costs associated with fish farming include the construction and maintenance of a pond, the purchase of food and the introduction of young fish into it. In addition, it is worth considering transportation costs, money for advertising and security. Also don't forget about taxes; their calculation depends on a lot of factors, for example, the type of business registration.

Because of the rapid growth and lack of disease, fish farming remains a profitable business. This is especially true when breeding bighead carp or a hybrid, as these individuals have a fast growth rate and are easy to sell on the market.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionThe main breakdown in the budget will occur due to the lack of sufficient food in the pond. The cost of buying supplements will be more than all the income received. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that the pond has an abundance of natural food for silver carp.

How to fish

Bighead carp is not a marine fish, this should be taken into account when planning fishing. Bighead fishing in its natural habitat is allowed from May until the end of September. Except during the spawning season, during which fishing is prohibited by law.

Fishing for silver carp is difficult because of the way it behaves. The best time to try your luck is when the water temperature rises to 18-20°C as that is when the fish swim in the middle layers of the water column. If it gets too hot, they tend to go deeper. Therefore, if you decide to go fishing on a sunny day with no wind, it is best to start at sunrise.

Seat selection

The most ideal places for fishing are small reservoirs with a varied bottom topography, where shallow water alternates with deep areas. Long established reservoirs are also good for fishing.

Anglers in the know talk about the tendency of silver carps to choose the same path when they are in their "home" pond. They advise you to recognize and take note of these "paths" by setting your fishing gear along them.

Catching silver carp in the river is a hopeless business, because the fish there are constantly on the move.

Time selection

Fishing conditions change depending on the season. During the warmer months, it is best to fish in the early morning or later in the afternoon when the temperature drops slightly. The most successful fishing comes out when there is no wind and clouds, as the fish are sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure. In the cold season, silver carp can be found immediately after the ice melts or during thaws and after the ice breaks in the spring.

Given the weight of the fish, strong fishing tackle is required. It is recommended to use carp rods. In addition, it is wise to choose a thick fishing line with a diameter of at least 0.3-0.4 mm.

It's important to remember that the law prohibits fishing during periods when silver carps breed.

What bait to use

Experienced anglers often use different types of bait. Canned corn or fresh peas are particularly preferred as they are both heavy and dense, allowing them to stay connected to the hook. In addition, their bright hue makes them stand out in murky waters. Barley porridge, dough and large breadcrumbs are also usually effective.

The key to success with groundbait fishing is to create a "spray" effect that mimics plankton and thus attracts fish. To achieve this, groundbait is made from a combination of flour, semolina, milk powder and other ingredients that, when wet, turn into a dust cloud in water. The condensed milk also helps create the desired "haze" that is attractive to the fish.

Technoplankton fishing

Technoplankton is a type of bait that, when immersed in water, dissolves into tiny particles and forms a kind of cloud.Due to the resemblance to accumulations of plankton, silver carp bite very well on it. As a rule, technoplankton is made in the form of a small barrel with a hole running through its entire length. This type of lure is ideal for long casts.

When fishing with this technique, a certain tool is used - a large-headed stick. It is needed to keep the bait in one place. The sinkers are adjustable so that the bait remains at least thirty centimeters under water.

Instead of technoplankton, anglers can choose spring feeders that contain a special mixture. The same gear is suitable for their use as when using technoplankton.

Using bottom gear

A bottom tackle (donka) is a type of spring feeder that contains a special food mixture. She sinks to the bottom. Two or three hooks are attached to it, on which foam balls are put on. The idea is that when the fish consumes the food particles, they also swallow the pellets and get hooked.

The disadvantage of this technique is that when making food at home, it is easy to make a mistake in the recipe, and the bait will not disperse like a cloud. To be on the safe side, an effervescent tablet is placed in the feeder. By reacting with water, it will help to disperse food particles in the water.

However, the main disadvantage of this species is that it is almost impossible to catch large fish, because, as a rule, it remains in the upper layers of the reservoir and does not tend to sink to the bottom.

Tackle "Killer carp" - what is it

The advantage of using this tackle is that you can catch several fish at the same time. In addition, the ability to self-strike does not allow the silver carp to slip off the hook. In addition, all hooks are hidden in technoplankton, which makes them invisible to fish. It is noteworthy that the technoplankton for this tackle is specially designed to make it especially inviting for fish.

The float of this fishing tackle also plays a big role. It has a semi-circular shape with a hole in the center that makes it stable.

About meat

Meat of silver carp is a high-calorie product with significant nutritional value. It is rich in proteins, contains B vitamins, vitamins A, D and E, as well as trace elements such as iron, phosphorus and iodine.

100 grams of cooked silver carp meat contains about 20 grams of protein and 90 calories. In addition, large head meat contains little fat and cholesterol, which makes it even he althier. The high calorie content of meat is accompanied by a high protein content, which is comparable in digestibility to poultry protein.

However, like all fish products, silver carp sometimes contains mercury, so when eating it, you should monitor the amount of fish consumed.

100 grams of silver carp fillets contain the following nutrients:

1. Proteins: 20g
2. Fat: 1.2g
3. Carbs: 0g
4. Calories: 90 kcal.

100 grams of fillets also contain significant amounts of vitamins and minerals, including:

1. Vitamin B12: 3.5 mcg.
2. Vitamin B6: 0.2 mg.
3. Vitamin E: 0.8 mg.
4. Vitamin D: 11 mcg.
5. Iron: 0.9 mg.
6. Phosphorus: 275 mg.
7. Potassium: 360 mg.
8. Magnesium: 43 mg.
9. Sodium: 50 mg.

The meat is tender, juicy and has a subtle sweetish aftertaste. The taste of fish remains unchanged even after freezing, but there is one significant drawback - this is its bony structure. The meat contains a mass of small bones, which are quite capable of becoming a hindrance when eating it.

The silver carp is characterized by the same thing as almost all freshwater fish - a lot of bones. To avoid this becoming a problem, choose a large fish, weighing from three kilograms. Although, it will still have a lot of bones, but at least they will be large and can be easily removed.

Bighead carp is recommended to include in the diet of the elderly, people suffering from diabetes, gout and gastritis. To preserve the beneficial properties of fish, it is best to cook it by boiling or stewing.

Interesting facts

What is remarkable about the bigheads:

1. For spawning, as a rule, muddy waters of large rivers are preferred.
2. Although they almost never migrate long distances, there have been occasions when individuals have swum far away from their usual habitats.
3. There is an opinion among fishermen that fish sometimes jump out of the water due to loud noise, for example, from a motor boat.

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