Bighead Carp Farming Process

Introduction

The Bighead carp scientific name is Hypophthalmichthys Nobilis formerly known as Aristichthys Nobilis (Richardson, 1845) is a freshwater fish but that is no longer its acceptable scientific name. It belongs to the Cyprinidae family, which is the carp and minnow family. The common name is Bighead Carp. This fish may also be referred to as noble fish, pond or lake fish. The body of a bighead carp is laterally compressed with the top being a dark gray colour which grades down to off white on its belly. It has many dark blotches on its sides. Its head is comparatively large with no scales and a large terminal mouth. The scales of a bighead carp are small, a large mouth, and eyes located very low on the head and are positioned downward. The bighead has no teeth and its lower jaw protrudes out farther than its upper jaw. This Bighead Carp is very similar to Asian carp found in the United States. Simraungadh, Bara, Nepal record sizes Bighead carp weighed 27 pound (12 kg) in freshwater pond and was caught Kushwaha farmer in 2008. Adults usually have a mottled silver-gray coloration. Adults can be quite large. The average length is 24-32 inches (60-82 cm). Bighead carp grow rapidly and once they reach maturity they are able to gain 450 gm or more per month. Bighead carp don’t like the common carp. Bighead carp are primary filter feeders. They feed on zooplankton but they are opportunistic feeders, meaning if zooplankton levels are low they will eat phytoplankton and detritus.

Life Cycle Biology & Life History

Bighead carp are exclusively freshwater fish. They prefer large pond areas and will not spawn in still water or small pond but do inhabit lakes and large ponds.  Spawning occurs after spring rains have flooded the pond and when the temperature of the water reaches 77o F. External fertilization takes place and the eggs float down ponds. Bighead carp grow rapidly and once they reach maturity they are able to gain 450 gm or more per month. They feed on zooplankton but they are opportunistic feeders, meaning if zooplankton levels are low they will eat phytoplankton and detritus. They filter the water through their comb-like gill. So they only consume those organisms small enough to penetrate their filter feeding apparatus.