Carp Fish Farming

But those that are cultured represent just a few of the carp species that have farming significance out of a thousand available. Common carp, Indian carps and Chinese carps are the species that have caught the attention of aqua culturists.

Carp Growing Basics

Carps are hatched from eggs rather than born live and can grow to a weight of about 13 kg. They thrive on freshwater and grows best in the tropics where they spawn as much as four times a year. In temperate climate they spawn once during the spring. Spawning can be done naturally in specially prepared spawning ponds or induced by hormones incorporated in feeds or injected to fish kept in hatcheries.

For natural spawning, farms use different media to collect the eggs. Some use tree branches, others plants or fiber mats. The idea is to have a surface upon which eggs will be deposited upon release so that they can be easily transferred to nursery ponds. Eggs hatched within a week and fish larvae become fingerlings after about a month. They stay in the nursery for about a month before being transferred to grownout ponds.

Carps are produced in monoculture (most common) or polyculture to take advantage of various food sources available. Common carps feed on small plants and zooplankton, other species, in addition, feed on tiny animals, molluscs, detritus and dead plants. The type of fish farming is one factor that determines production level. Other factors include fish species, water temperature and whether or not the fish are allowed to produce naturally or artificially fertilized. Under optimum condition, yield could reach up to 800 g/m2.

You can pursue carp fish farming by breeding broodstock for sale to fish farmers, rearing them from broodstock or by doing both. So that you could master all the aspects of growing this species, it is suggested that you grow the young ones until maturity. For specific values on the best fish stocking density, size and depth of the ponds, ideal temperature for raising carp consult extension specialists, and research studies.

Fish Farm Equipment

Basic to any fish farm are a shed for protecting cultures; tanks or ponds for breeding and rearing and for holding the broodstock and larvae; pump for lifting or moving water. More specific requirements for a fish farm include water supply network, electrical network, air blower, heater, aquarium, and laboratory instruments (for culture). Other necessities include feeds as well as constant supply of water and electricity.