Carps form the mainstay of aquaculture in India contributing over 85% of the total aquaculture production There are 61,259 species of vertebrates recognized world; over 30,700 are fish species of which 8,411 ore fresh water while 11,650 are marine. In India 2,163 spp. are fin fishes have been recorded from upland cold water (157; 7.26%) warm water of the plain (54; 20.99%), Brackish water (182; 8.41%) and marine environment (1,370; 63.43%). Some of these species are cultured at commercial level which covering a lot varieties of fin fishes The three Indian major carps, namely Catla (Catla catla), Rohu (Labeo rohita) and Mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigal) contribute the bulk of production to the extent of 75 to85 percent of the total fresh water fish production, the three exotic carp such as Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and Common carp (Cyprinus carpio ), Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella )form the second important group to incorporate several other medium and minor carp and into the carp poly culture system several method were used because of their region specific consumer preference and higher market demand. History Carp culture in India was restricted only to a homestead backyard pond activity in west Bengal and Odisha until late 1950 s with seed from riverine sources as the only input resulting low level of production the technological breakthrough breeding of carp through hypophysation in 1957 freshwater aquaculture of the country the country till 1984 virtually laid the foundation of scientific carp farming in the country. Important characteristics of Indian major carps:- Indian major carp grow fast and can reproduce even in artificial ponds. They feed upon phytoplankton, zooplankton, decaying organic matter, aquatic plant etc. stomach is absent in the alimentary canal of the major carps. Three types of Indian major carps are cultured in

1. Ashish sahu

2.  Carps form the mainstay of aquaculture in India
contributing over 80- 90 % of the total aquaculture
production .
 the three Indian major carps,viz.Catla(Catla
catla),Rohu(Lebeo rohita),Mrigal (Cirrhinus
mrigala)contribute bulk of the production in the
country,whereas the three domesticated exotic
carps such as Silver carp(Hypophthamichthys
molitrix),Grass carp(Ctenophanyngodon idella ),and
common carp(Cyprinus carpio)from the second
important group.
 Kalbasu (L. calbasu),bata (L.bata),fringe-lipped carp
(L.fimbriatus), kuria labeo (L.gonius) etc.

3. Important culturable varieties
Indian major carps
Exotic major carps and minor carps
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub Phylum Vertebrata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Cypriniformes
Family Cyprinidae

4. Characters' Catla Rohu Mrigal
Distribution Tropical freshwater fish
,India ,Pakistan Burma,
Japan
Tropical freshwater
fish , India, Pakistan
Burma, Japan
Tropical freshwater fish
India ,Pakistan Burma,
Japan
Special features Head large very cons -
picuous, Mouth Up
turned,Body greenish
dorsally ,big head.
Head is small,
pointed &terminal
mouth,lower lip of the
mouth is fringed.
Mouth terminal,Body
bright silvery ,tip of
head is flattened
Upper jaw Fringed.
Habitation Surface Column Bottom
Feeding Plankton feeder esp.
zooplankton
Feed on plant
&algae matter .
Omnivorous
Stage of
maturity
End of its 2nd year. End of the 2nd year End of the 2nd year
Fecundity 2 lakhs to 4.2 lakhs 2 to 5 lakhs 2-4 lakhs
Growth 1yr 1-1.25 kg ,45cm 35 to 45 cm 0.7kg to
1kg
40cm ,1 kg
Breeding
season
June-August/Sept..
South west monsoon
June-August/Sept..
South west monsoon
June-August/Sept..
South west monsoon

5. Indian major
carps

6. Characters' Silver carp Grass carp Common carp
Distribution China, India, Thailand,
Malaysia,Japan,Srilanka,
Burma, Pakistan, Nepal,
HongkongPhillippines
China, India, Thailand,
Malaysia,Japan,Srilanka,
Burma, Pakistan, Nepal,
HongkongPhillippines
China, India, Thailand,
Malaysia,Japan,Srilanka,
Burma, Pakistan, Nepal,
HongkongPhillippines
Introduction In 1959 In 1959 In 1939
special
features
Small Silvery Scales,
Mouth upturned.
Snout rounded,Scales
medium sized,body light
greenish colour
Scales large ,Mouth
terminal, Two pairs
barbles,Dorsal long.
Habitation Surface layer It is a Column dwellers Benthic region
Feeding Phytoplankton It is herbivorous Omnivorous
Stage of
maturity
end of the 2nd year end of 2nd year. 6 months
Fecundity 1.5-1.8 lakh /kg 1.5-3.0 lakhs/kg 1.5-1.8 lakhs/kg
Growth 1yr 1.5 to 2 kg 1.5 kg ,4 and 7 kg 1 to 1.5 kg
Breeding
season
March- August March- August Jan-March, June-Aug

7. Exotic carps
Silver Carp
Grass carp
Common carp

8.  The packages of practices were developed for
the seed production and grow-out farming.
 Seed production:-
 Nursery pond-
 The nursery phase refers to the rearing of 3-4
day old spawn (5-6 mm) for a 15 to 20 days for
major carps and 20 to 25 days for medium
carps .
 Generally ,smaller seasonal earthen pond of
0.02 to 0.1 ha. size with the average depth of
1.o to 1.5 m is preferred for carp nursery.
 These pond must be free from insects and
other fish enemies like frogs , tadpoles etc.

9. Control of aquatic weed:-
 The aquatic weed – floating weed,
submerged weed and marginal weed are
control by three methods-
 three method –
 Manual and mechanical
 Chemical and
 Biological

10.  This methods are used in removal of floating
weeds like-Eichhornia ,Sagitaria,Salvinea,
Pistia ,Azolla ,Lemna ,wolffia
 They are removed manually by dragging
these weed with a rope

11. Lemna Azolla
Pistia Water hyacinth
Free floating weeds

12. Submerged weed :
 These weed remain under the water and may
or may not be rooted at the bottom
 e.g. –Hydrilla
Najas
Vallisneria
Ceratophyllum
Utricularia .
 Control-They are remove by sickle ,scythe
,rakes and hooks

13. Hydrilla
VallisneriaCeratophyllum
Najas
Submerged weed

14. Marginal weeds :
 These grow along the shallow shore and are
rooted
 e.g.-Typha ,Ipomea aquatic ,Cyperus .
 Also these weeds remove by sickle ,scythe,
rakes and hooks
Ipomea Cyperus

15. Chemical method :
 Chemical -2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid
(2,4-D ) is applied specially for water hyacinth
control @ 6 to 10kg/ha .
 All submerged weed, Ammonia @10-15ppm
/ha .is applied .
Biological method:- At present grass carp is
the best possible fish which is used to
control the weed

16.  Predatory fishes are those fishes that prey upon
spawn ,fry ,and fingerlings of carps :
 e.g.- Wallago attu ,Channa spp ,Notopterus
chitala , Mystus spp , Clarias batrachus
 Weed fishes-they compete with spawn ,fry ,and
fingerlings of carps for feed ,space and oxygen.
 e.g. – Puntius ticto ,P. sophore ,Esomus danricus
,Oxygaster bacaila ,Ambassis nama ,A. ranga
,Barillus spp
 Control-mahua oil cake(250-300 ppm) and
dragging of net

17. Wallago attu Channa spp.
Mystus spp.
Predatory fishes

18. . Esomus danricus. Puntius ticto
.
Oxygasterbo caila Amblypharyngodon mola
Weed fishes

19.  A high rate of survival of fry in a nursery pond
can be expected only if the insect population is
controlled .,
 Among the insect fauna ,
Beetles –Cybister
Back swimmers –anisops
Water bugs –Belostoma Spp.
water scorpions –Nepa
Stick insect –Ranatra ,are the most common
aquatic insects.
 control- soap oil emulsion -@ 18 kg/ha of
cheap shoap

20. Cybister larva Sternolophus
Ranatra Anisops
Insects

21.  The first step in fertilization of a pond is the
application of quick lime (CaO) .
 Quick lime @200 kg /ha is generally spread on
the bottom ,15 days before stocking in the pond
of fish fry and fingerlings .
 It act as disinfectant.
 It provide the calcium element.

22.  Pond fertilization aims to enhancement of the
autotrophic and heterotrophic production of
ecosystem.
 Cattle dung or poultry droppings are the most
commonly used organic manure manures.
 With combination urea and super phosphate as
inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus source.
 Cattle dung 10 -20 tonnes/ha/year or 4-8
t./ha/year poultry manure.
 Urea @ 100 kg /ha/year & SP @50 kg /ha/year

23.  The following range are considered to be
conducive for the nursery pond .
 Dissolve oxygen –more than(>)4 mg/lit.
 PH—7.5-8.3
 Temperature -27-32oC
 Secchi disck visivility-40-60cm.
 Alkalinity -80-120 mg CaCo3/lit.
 Phosphorous -0.2-o.3 mg/lit.
 Inorganic nitrogen -0.5-1.0mg/lit

24.  Carps spawn transported from the hatchery is
acclimatized in nursery pond itself and release
during cool hours of the day ,i.e.in the morning
or evening .
 The stoking density in earthen nurseries normally
3-5 million spawn/ha
 However, density can be increased up to 10
million/ha with better management.
 The stoking density is further increased up to 20
million/ha in concrete tanks are used as nursery.
 A Survival rate 30 to 40 % of fry is achieved in
earthen pond and higher survival level of 50 to
60% is achieved in concrete nursery tank in 15 to
20 days.

25.  Groundnut oilcake and rice bran(powdered
mixture) at 1:1 ratio has been the most
commonly used supplementary feed for all
the major carps.
 The dry feed mixture is normally supplied in
nurseries @400% of the initial spawn biomass
(1 million spawn weigh about 1.5 kg.)i.e.6
kg/million/day for 5 days .
 And subsequent 800 % of the initial biomass
i.e.12 kg/million/day.

26.  Harvesting of the fry is done during cool
hours, preferably at morning or evening
 When their size reach about 25(2-3 g.) mm.

27.  The fry of carps are stock into rearing pond
to raised further fry to fingerling for 2 - 3
months.
 The shape is rectangular and size is 0.05 to
0.2 ha area with 1.2 to 1.5 m depth.
Stocking of fry :-
 Stocking is preferably done during morning
or evening hours.
 In earthen ponds, the stocking density is
0.2-0.3 million fry/ha

28.  Feed is provided @ 8 to 10 %(32kg) of initial
biomass of fry per day during the first month
.
 Followed by 6 to 8 %(24 kg) of the standing
biomass during the subsequent two months.
 Daily ration is provided into two installments
during morning and evening
Mustard oil cake wheat bran rice
bran

29.  Within 2-3 months of rearing ,the fry grow to
fingerlings of 80 to 100 mm in length (8 to 10 g
).
 Fingerlings are harvested by using a closed –
mesh drag net in morning hours
 Normally survival of 60-70 % is achieved in
rearing pond with proper management.
 When the fingerling are to be transported
,feeding is stopped one day prior to
harvesting.

30.  These ponds are large in size ranging from
0.04-10.0 ha in area with 1-4 m depth
different region of country.
 While ideal size 0.4 to 1.0 ha with 2 to 3 m
water depth.
Pond preparation:-preparation is same as the
nursery pond already mentioned above

31.  Generally a density of 5,000-10,000
fingerlings/ha is kept as a standard stoking
in carps poly culture .
 For production target 3-5 tonnes/ha/year
 Stoking density can increase for higher
production
 As a density of 15,000-25,000/ha far target
production 10-15 tonnes/ha/year
 Spp. Combination-surface feeder-40 %
 Mid water feeder-30 % and
 Bottom feeder 30 % respectively.

32.  Apply supplementary feeds as agricultural wastes
wheat bran ,rice bran ,mustard oil cake
groundnut oil cake etc.
 A mixture of rice bran and mustard oil cake at
1:1 ratio.
 Provide feed daily @4 % of fish biomass weight in
initial days
 Subsequently @ 3 %, 2% and 1% towards the end
of the culture
 Roughly ,provide 4 kg feed/ day initially and
gradually increase up to 40 kg feed/ day towards
the end of culture (10-12 months)for 8,000 fishes
stocked in 1.0 ha pond.

33.  Generally carps are harvested after one year
when fish reach marketable size of 0.8-1.0 kg
.
 Intermittent harvesting is done is done with
the help of dragnet of suitable mesh size .
 C0mplete harvesting is usually done by
complete draining of the pond .

34. Introduction
 80% of freshwater farming Constituted by Carps and other Cyprinids globally.
 Indian Major Carps – Catla, Labeo, Mrigal –Indo Gangetic riverine Systems of India.
 Comman Carp- Cyprinus carpio enjoys a world wide distribution .
 Silver barb- Puntius gonionotus main native carp Species of Thailand.
Reproductive Biology
 Bisexual , sex Can be distinguished Only during the breeding season .

36.  Hand book of fisheries and aquaculture.
 Dr S.Ayyappan
 Chapter (16)
 Page no. (380-399)
Fish and fisheries
 S.S. Khanna
 Chapter(39 )
 Page (401 )