Breeding crucian carp in ponds has been widespread in Russian peasant farming for many hundreds of years. They were bred in a variety of suitable bodies of water. Carp perfectly adapted to the conditions of village ponds, which were intended to quench the thirst of livestock or to water the garden.
Shallow ponds measuring 5 by 5 meters were also created specifically for crucian carp. Later they began to add carp (carp) to them, noticing their compatibility with each other. Although growing them together requires larger reservoirs. Crucian carp meat is in no way inferior to carp in taste and nutritional qualities. You can also breed it at home.
There are two types of crucian carp:
- gold or ordinary;
- silver.
The more common type is gold, but For growing, silver is most preferable, although he looks smaller, he grows and gains weight faster.
The advantages of its breeding are its unpretentiousness and resistance to many serious diseases, for example, branchiomycosis and rubella. Due to its high immunity, this fish can be grown in more severe conditions than carp or other types of fish. Crucian carp adapts well to winter conditions. When the pond is covered with ice, then in such conditions it is ready to eat almost any food.
How to breed crucian carp at home?
For this you will need:
- pond;
- boat motor;
- sheets of stainless steel or aluminum;
- bucket with holes;
- fishing gear;
- grain feed or feed grain;
- fingerling crucian carp;
- breeding crucian carp.
There are two ways to breed crucian carp in your summer cottage.
The first method of growing crucian carp
The first method is based on summer rearing of fingerlings to commercial size. For this method Even small bodies of water are suitable, which have a size of 4.5 by 6 and a depth of 0.5 to 1.5 meters. It is necessary to protect the pond from drying out.
In the fishery, purchase up to 20 fingerling crucian carp for the above pond size. Plant them in a pond in the spring, after the ice has disappeared. Crucian carp is an omnivorous fish. He feeds on both animal food, which he himself obtains in the pond, and plant food. They include steamed grains, peas, unsalted cereals, and feed for pigs. If possible, feed them with food specifically designed for them.
At the same time once or twice a day feed the fish on so-called feeding tables, which look like sheets of stainless steel or aluminum. The leaf is lowered to a depth of more than a meter or to the bottom, and at a certain time food is thrown onto it. The crucian carp should cope with it in half an hour, then the remaining food on the sheets rises. The water in the pond will deteriorate if the food is left in the pond.
During the season, the crucian carp should grow to a commercial size; the weight gain of fingerlings is expected to be 200-300 grams. All individuals must be caught with the arrival of autumn, as they may die from lack of oxygen.
The second method of growing crucian carp
The second way to grow crucian carp is direct breeding. To do this, you need to acquire manufacturers. They are taken from a natural reservoir; the best producer is golden crucian carp; among them there may be a number of silverfish.
Males are preferable to the golden variety, while females are preferable to the silver variety. Their sizes should be approximately the same. Before spawning females must be kept separate from males. Sexual maturity in silver females occurs by the second year, but for breeding purposes the age of 3-6 years is preferable. The spawning period begins in June or July. The pond must be large and at least 1.5 meters deep; plants must be planted there, which is a necessary condition for spawning.
After spawning, larvae appear on days 3-6. These periods depend on the water temperature; if it is above 20 degrees, then they are reduced. They are kept in a spawning pond for two to three weeks; fertilizers that consist of peat, slaked lime, humus, slurry and superphosphate are useful for their growth. Fertilizer is applied before the pond is filled with water.
The next stage of breeding crucian carp in a home pond is to transplant the young animals into a nursery pond. The transplantation technology is identical to carp transplantation. Please note that The spawning pond must be drained slowly, otherwise the young animals will get entangled in the grass and die. It is necessary to feed crucian carp in the same way as described above. They should also be caught in the fall.
To avoid winter freezes, it is necessary to make holes in the ice. To aerate water in winter, it is necessary to use electric motors with activators on the axis. They are immersed in wormwood, protected by a casing made from a perforated bucket. The size of the holes should be smaller than the fish, otherwise out of curiosity it will swim in there; there should be a lot of them. Also you can use an aeration channel- an outlet from a reservoir, which is closed with a fish barrier net, equipped with a boat motor with a propeller.
When breeding using the second method, the fish will probably become smaller, since after spawning there are a large number of them in the pond. The fry have a depressing effect on each other and interfere with the development of large individuals. To provoke natural selection and bring the population to the required quantity, release a small pike 25-30 cm long into the pond, which will begin to eat small fish. At the end of summer you will catch it with a spoon.
Monitor the appearance of predatory insects in the pond, as well as remove swimming beetles and their large larvae. The fish will destroy the small larvae itself.
- Fry food should be ground to form a paste.
- A fire pond is suitable for breeding crucian carp.
- To make the reservoir “shed” ice faster, sprinkle the surface with peat chips in the spring.
- If the water in the pond is very soft, then it is better to lower natural pieces of marble or limestone to the bottom. This type of fish prefers hard water.
How nice it is in the summer morning, throwing a fishing rod into your own pond and catching a few crucian carp for breakfast.
Crucian carp is an unpretentious fish. In nature, it is found in reservoirs almost throughout the country. It can live in rivers, but prefers swampy ponds with standing water. Therefore, the fish is well suited for growing in a summer cottage. Breeding crucian carp, just like breeding carp in the countryside, in an artificial reservoir, is an interesting business. In order for it to become even more profitable and profitable, you need to properly equip the pond and provide its inhabitants with high-quality food.
In natural reservoirs, no one artificially feeds crucian carp. They get along just fine without it. The home garden is another matter. But before choosing the type of feeding, you need to know that crucian carp is very conservative in matters of nutrition. He prefers familiar food.
Type of fish and feed used
Several types of crucian carp are grown in artificial reservoirs:
- crucian carp or golden carp
- goldfish
- gold fish
Feeding rules
With insufficient nutrition, crucian carp degenerates and becomes smaller, and is capable of forming a dwarf form. The question always arises of what to feed crucian carp in a home pond.
In nature, the basis of the diet of crucian carp is:
- chironomid larvae (bloodworms) and other insects;
- small shellfish;
- worms;
- seaweed.
Feeding process
A home pond of almost any size and design is suitable for growing crucian carp. In principle, crucian carp are omnivores. Even if you don't feed them, they won't die of hunger. In a home pond, they will always find the minimum food necessary for survival, especially if the pond has a muddy bottom, there are many plants and its own ecosystem has already developed.
To increase the mass of crucian carp, you need to ensure:
- feed of plant origin;
- animal food.
In home ponds, natural feeding or prepared feed is practiced. Each type of food has its own advantages. Ready-made feed is always balanced and does not require long preparation; besides, it is quite convenient to store it. You will have to tinker with natural food. But they are cheaper.
For convenience, you can equip a small feeding platform and a tray table. Food is placed on this device with sides and lowered into the water. Such a feeder prevents food debris from falling to the bottom and turning sour there.
The feeder allows you to:
- control the intensity of food consumption by crucian carp;
- adjust the portion of feed;
- observe the process of eating food.
Feeding crucian carp in a barrel
Small crucian carp can also be kept in a barrel. In this case, the fish perform more of a decorative function. They survive well due to their amazing resilience.
- You need to feed them in such a small pond very sparingly.
- You need to make sure that the fish eat the food completely, otherwise the water will turn sour and the fish will die.
- Food can be taken dry or natural.
- Suitable food for goldfish.
- Among natural foods, crucian carp eat bloodworms, worms, pieces of meat, boiled legumes and grains well.
- Do not allow the barrel to overheat. It is better to dig it into the ground in a shady corner of the garden.
- You can plant a potted aquatic plant in a barrel; this will help in the fight for water purity. But crucian carp love to rummage at the bottom, so the pot needs to be well camouflaged with large stones.
- Regular replacement of part of the water in such reservoirs is a prerequisite for the successful cultivation of crucian carp.
The question: how to feed fish is relevant only in the warm season: in winter, fish do not eat, and there is no point in feeding them. In properly created conditions of a home pond, golden crucian carp grow up to 500-600 grams. In two years, silver crucian carp gains weight up to 250-300 grams. In order to get such results, the fish need to be fed correctly.
Feeding rules:
- feed is given 1-2 times a day;
- feeding is carried out in the afternoon;
- They give exactly as much food as the crucian carp can eat in 15 minutes.
If there are 30 crucian carp in your pond, 100 grams each, then for one feeding you will need 90-150 g of steamed grain. It is mixed with meat waste, bran and bone meal. By autumn, portions are reduced, and with the onset of cold weather they stop feeding altogether.
Properly prepared food should not float to the surface of the water. Bulk feed is added in the form of porridge or dough. To do this, dry food is mixed well with water.
Where to get food
Residents of rural areas can get by with what they have at hand. Suitable for omnivorous crucian carp:
- corn;
- rye;
- all types of legumes;
- boiled potatoes;
- bran;
- flour;
- meat waste.
Ready-made feed
Ready-made fish feed includes:
- protein;
- cellulose;
- vitamins A, D, E, K, group B;
- iron, manganese, zinc, copper, cobalt;
- trembling.
When going through the hassle of organizing feeding crucian carp in the pond, remember that they will all result in positive emotions from fishing in your own garden at any time. In this case, you will not need to think about biting. And just relaxing by the pond with golden crucian carp is a great pastime and a charge of positivity.
When buying crucian carp in a store or at the market, any housewife chooses a larger fish. It is not surprising that fish farmers who specialize in breeding fish in reservoirs are asking a very pressing question: how quickly does crucian carp grow?
The growth of crucian carp depends on many factors, and ignoring any of them can have a negative impact
What a fish farmer needs to know
Crucian carp may not get along with all of its “neighbors” in a pond. Therefore, before you start breeding fish in your summer cottage, you need to arm yourself with special knowledge and provide optimal conditions for these unique pets. Moreover, you need to know at what time of the year it is better to release the fry into the reservoir and how much growth the fish will give in a year.
Among the main factors contributing to the successful development of fisheries are the following:
- Any fresh water body is suitable for breeding crucian carp, regardless of the region of our country.
- Good adaptive properties of crucian carp.
- Low requirements for the quality of the external environment (a tributary of a lake, river, or even an ordinary swamp is suitable for breeding crucian carp).
- Quick adaptation to changes in water temperature.
- Availability of natural food in reservoirs.
- Resistance of this fish species to aquatic diseases.
- Opportunity to organize a profitable business.
Crucian carp can be crossed with carp, thereby obtaining larger individuals
It is known that crucian carp has high immunity. In particular, diseases such as rubella and branchiomycosis, which many fish suffer from for many years, are easily tolerated by crucian carp. The problem with fish farming is the small proportion of males compared to females.
This is a genetic feature of the family, and to breed crucian carp, fish farmers use another, no less significant property of the fish. By combining carp and carp in one reservoir, and knowing well how many fish need to be released, it is possible to achieve reproduction based on crossing female crucian carp with males of other fish. It is important that male fish and tall female crucian carp fish match in size. Such offspring grow quickly and gain weight more actively.
To determine the efficiency calculation, you must first study the varieties of this fish, which is divided into 2 main types:
- gold;
- silver.
The growth of crucian carp depends on its variety
Perhaps the most important issues when breeding fish are the following:
- how much does commercial fish weigh?
- how quickly it reproduces;
- how quickly crucian carp reproduce and grow.
Silver crucian carp reproduce much faster than gold crucian carp. So, at the age of 1 year, this fish weighs from 6 to 8 grams, at two years the weight reaches 50 grams, and by the age of three it weighs about 100 grams. If under normal conditions the weight of commercial crucian carp is usually 500 grams, then in special favorable conditions such a pet grows more actively and can gain weight up to 5 kg.
Where do crucian carp live?
If there are too many goldfish in a reservoir and no other species of fish at all, then over time they can degenerate into a smaller breed, with a large head and a small overall weight.
The silver crucian species is more preferable for breeding due to its survival rate, regardless of habitat
Silver crucian carp is more adapted to survive in different bodies of water; its weight usually does not deviate from 1 kg. By the age of three, these individuals weigh about 250 grams, which is 2.5 times the weight of goldfish of the same age.
Experienced fishermen and fish breeders know well how many offspring fish farmers get when breeding fish. Thus, from crucian carp you can successfully obtain different types of fish as a result of crossing. Wild crucian carp have become good donors for many types of aquarium fish, distinguished by amazing shapes, colors and different sizes. Therefore, crucian carp every year become the subject of many scientific conferences, theoretical studies and practical experiments.
The Far Eastern rivers, lakes and reservoirs of Siberia contain tons of commercial fish, the most popular of which is crucian carp. Along with more valuable fish species, it has become an object of commercial activity and a sought-after raw material for catering establishments. In addition to the Siberian district, crucian carp have adapted well to the climate of the European part of the country. Fish are successfully bred in specialized reservoirs, river tributaries, lake backwaters, etc.
Crucian carp can live in a wide variety of water bodies and areas
Newly created reservoirs in any region of the country make it possible to breed new species of crucian carp every year by crossing individuals of different breeds. For fans of sport fishing, private fishing and fish breeding in conditions close to natural, it is useful to familiarize yourself with special literature that has accumulated special knowledge about the breeds and life of fish. According to the generally accepted classification, it includes, among others, freshwater fish - crucian carp. The geography of their distribution is quite extensive - Europe, North America, Africa and other countries.
Within the group, crucian carp belong to the genus carp. Golden (also known as common) crucian carp has a dark color on the back, while the belly is lighter. The main feature of the common crucian carp is its relatively short intestine. These fish use sweet clover as food: various larvae, small invertebrates, and algae. The gills of crucian carp allow it to feed on plankton, filtering the water well.
Population of silver crucian carp
It should be noted that algae and small invertebrate organisms are digested more quickly by the fish’s intestines, therefore individuals that feed primarily on plankton differ from their relatives in body length. Large crucian carp are distributed mainly in Siberia and the European part of the country. If we are talking about the Far East, then its numbers here are small. It lives in a few swamps, small lakes and slow-flowing rivers.
Goldfish are able to survive in a wide variety of conditions
The silver crucian carp is more adapted to the conditions of the harsh Siberian climate, which successfully reproduces in both small and fairly large reservoirs, no matter how many degrees it is “overboard”.
Silver crucian carp are more hardy, not whimsical and spawn well every year in any fresh and even brackish water. How much silver carp grows in a year depends on the conditions of detention, weather, the breed of males and their productivity. A decrease in the amount of oxygen in water, changes in temperature and acidity of water are not a particular obstacle to their reproduction.
Even if the water temperature drops to zero degrees, crucian carp will be able to survive. In conditions of polluted ponds and wetlands, it is able to survive and reproduce, unlike other types of fish. Increasing in weight up to 200 - 300 grams per year, crucian carp is particularly resilient when there is a lack of air in the water.
The ability of crucian carp to quickly change weight and create various bizarre shapes distinguishes these fish from other freshwater fish. Their bodies are so plastic that aquarium enthusiasts have grown amazing specimens: telescopes, comets, veiltails and other fish species. Japanese and Chinese fish farmers bred a unique breed of goldfish, the ancestors of which were golden carp.
Crucian carp is able to reproduce even in a polluted reservoir and at low temperatures
Fish farmers should know that at the age of 3-4 years, crucian carp are ready to reproduce. If you provide special care - abundant feeding and optimal water temperature, then the fish begin to mature at the age of two. At the same time, if the water temperature drops to a level below average, then sexual maturation of individuals may be delayed for a year.
How many times do females spawn?
For goldfish to spawn, the water temperature should not fall below 14 degrees, but the optimal temperature is still considered 18 degrees Celsius. Females spawn in 3 stages, with a ten-day break. Typically, spawning begins in May and can last until August.
It is noteworthy that golden carp spawn faster than silver carp, but they are less fertile. Thus, a female silver crucian carp lays about 400 thousand eggs, while a golden crucian carp lays “only” 300 thousand. How many eggs will survive depends on how actively the crucian carp is growing.
The eggs laid in reservoirs are fertilized by males and, attached to algae, mature within a week. Schools of goldfish reproduce well in ponds every year, with the number of females significantly outnumbering males. In this case, females can interbreed with individuals of other fish species, carp, for example.
The golden type of crucian carp lays fewer eggs than the silver type
In the Far East, a relative advantage of females is noted, but closer to the Urals this balance is disturbed even more. For reasons that are still unclear, males die faster than females, so scientists use biological schemes for crossing different breeds of fish, thanks to which they obtain large, completely new varieties.
In conditions unfavorable for carp, hybrids reproduce well, spawn and raise offspring. Scientists have noticed an amazing feature: heredity on the maternal side is significantly superior to the paternal line. Due to this feature, female crucian carp survive cooling temperatures, pollution of water bodies and other “life difficulties” much better.
At the same time, good physical characteristics, rapid growth and the ability to adapt to unfavorable conditions are passed down through the paternal line. In this regard, fish farmers for breeding try to use healthy and strong male carp, carp and other individuals that do not differ significantly in size from female crucian carp. During the year of living together, the fish manage to spawn three times.
Crossing individuals of carp with crucian carp is considered effective.
Ponds and reservoirs in which carp do not take root are successfully used by fish farmers to raise crucian carp. If other fish do not tolerate stagnant water and salty soils, then silver crucian carp is bred in ponds as the main fish.
In the conditions of the Far North, where other fish species (carp, carp) cannot survive due to low temperatures, silver crucian carp are bred in large quantities. When crossing fish, it is very important to take into account the types of food consumed, because... with heterogeneous food, conflicts within the flock are minimized.
To raise fish for commercial purposes, you can use pond farms that were previously used for carp farming. If carp are removed from the water due to illness, then crucian carp is used to “treat” the reservoir. It is less susceptible to disease, resistant to temperature changes and is not whimsical.
Silver crucian carp is able to resist many diseases, while other fish die in such conditions
If we talk about how much benefit there is in the ratio of the edible and inedible parts of the fish, then crucian carp uses up to 60% of the product. It tastes good and is healthy. Its composition contains 18% protein, with a fat content of 7%.
In order for the usefulness of fish to be used effectively, it is crossed and more resistant varieties are obtained, larger in weight and resistant to disease. In large fish farms, specialists ensure that crucian carp reproduce quickly and bring the expected results. The natural plasticity of crucian carp is successfully used by fish breeders to breed valuable species.
If the cultivation of crucian carp is carried out purposefully, then the minimum hatching period is 3 years. With good feeding and optimal water temperature, this fish is capable of gaining record weight, from 1 to 5 kg. After this, the fish farm can become self-sufficient.
The rules for catching crucian carp can be found below:
Crucian carp is an unpretentious fish. In nature, it is found in reservoirs almost throughout Russia. It can live in rivers, but prefers swampy ponds with standing water. Therefore, the fish is well suited for growing in a summer cottage. Breeding crucian carp in an artificial reservoir is an interesting business. In order for it to become even more profitable and profitable, you need to properly equip the pond and provide its inhabitants with high-quality food. In natural reservoirs, no one artificially feeds crucian carp. They get along just fine without it. The home garden is another matter. But before choosing the type of feeding, you need to know that crucian carp is very conservative in matters of nutrition. He prefers his usual food, so it is important to feed him properly.
Type of fish and feed used
Several types of crucian carp are grown in artificial reservoirs:
- crucian carp or golden carp;
- goldfish;
- gold fish.
The first two species are found in natural bodies of water; goldfish were artificially bred in China and are a popular decoration for home ponds. Breeding any species involves feeding them.
Read more about fish farming in artificial reservoirs.
Rules for feeding in a country pond at home
With insufficient nutrition, crucian carp degenerates and becomes smaller, and is capable of forming a dwarf form. The question always arises of what to feed crucian carp in a home pond.
In nature, the basis of the diet of crucian carp is:
- chironomid larvae (bloodworms) and other insects;
- small shellfish;
- worms;
- seaweed.
This type of fish needs to be fed starting from the end of April–May. In mid-September, feeding is stopped. Crucian carp eat food well only in well-warmed water. In hot and cold weather they stop feeding. Water temperatures above 25 and below 12 °C are considered critical. Experienced fish farmers will not carry out feeding without a thermometer in hand, otherwise it will cause harm instead of benefit. The feed will settle to the bottom, decompose and negatively affect the quality of water. This process can cause. 
Feeding process
A home pond of almost any size and design is suitable for growing crucian carp. In principle, crucian carp are omnivores. Even if you don't feed them, they won't die of hunger. In a home pond, they will always find the minimum food necessary for survival, especially if the pond has a muddy bottom, there are many plants and its own ecosystem has already developed.
Read also about plastic garden ponds.
To increase the mass of crucian carp, you need to ensure:
- feed of plant origin;
- animal food.
These two types of feed can be mixed with each other. They are given in the form of porridge or thick dough. They do this at the same time, in the chosen place. Then the fish gets used to it and swims to this place at the right time.
In home ponds, natural feeding or prepared feed is practiced. Each type of food has its own advantages. Ready-made feed is always balanced and does not require long preparation; besides, it is quite convenient to store it. You will have to tinker with natural food. But they are cheaper.
You will find all the information about breeding carp at home.
The feeder allows you to:
- control the intensity of food consumption by crucian carp;
- adjust the portion of feed;
- observe the process of eating food.
In order not to wait for crucians at the feeder for a long time, you can call them with a bell. A conditioned reflex is developed quickly in fish, and within a week or two the fish will quickly swim to the feeding site when given a signal.
Feeding crucian carp in a barrel
Small crucian carp can also be kept in a barrel. In this case, the fish perform more of a decorative function. They survive well due to their amazing resilience.
- You need to feed them in such a small pond very sparingly.
- You need to make sure that the fish eat the food completely, otherwise the water will turn sour and the fish will die.
- Food can be taken dry or natural.
- Suitable food for goldfish.
- Among natural foods, crucian carp eat bloodworms, worms, pieces of meat, boiled legumes and grains well.
- Do not allow the barrel to overheat. It is better to dig it into the ground in a shady corner of the garden.
- You can plant a potted aquatic plant in a barrel; this will help in the fight for water purity. But crucian carp love to rummage at the bottom, so the pot needs to be well camouflaged with large stones.
How often and in what quantities to feed
The question: how to feed fish is relevant only in the warm season: in winter, fish do not eat, and there is no point in feeding them. In properly created conditions of a home pond, golden crucian carp grow up to 500–600 grams. In two years, silver crucian carp gains weight up to 250–300 grams. In order to get such results, the fish need to be fed correctly.
Feeding rules:
- feed is given 1–2 times a day;
- feeding is carried out in the afternoon;
- They give exactly as much food as the crucian carp can eat in 15 minutes.
If the fish in your pond are breeding, then everything is fine and the food is suitable for them. The amount of feed is calculated based on the number of fish and the type of feed. Cereals are given at the rate of: 3-5% of the total weight of fish in the pond.
How to make a trellis for climbing plants with your own hands is described.
If your pond has 30 crucian carp of 100 grams each, then for one feeding you will need 90–150 g of steamed grain. It is mixed with meat waste, bran and bone meal. By autumn, portions are reduced, and with the onset of cold weather they stop feeding altogether. 
Where to get food
Residents of rural areas can get by with what they have at hand. Suitable for omnivorous crucian carp:
- corn;
- rye;
- all types of legumes;
- boiled potatoes;
- bran;
- flour;
- meat waste.
The corn needs to be ground, the grains steamed, and the meat waste shredded. All this is mixed with flour or bran and water. They give food in the form of small lumps of dough. 
Ready-made feed
Ready-made fish feed includes:
- protein;
- cellulose;
- vitamins A, D, E, K, group B;
- iron, manganese, zinc, copper, cobalt;
- trembling.
For different types of fish, the percentage of components will differ. For crucian carp, feed with 20–35% protein content is chosen. Fiber in such feeds should be about 7 - 10%, fat - about 10%. There are special premixes for fish on sale that can be added to food to increase the weight gain of crucian carp. They contain vitamins, microelements, yeast, bran, and grains.
Manufacturers
There are several types of dry food: for fry, for commercial fish and for feeding fish in the pond. 
Mixtures should be used carefully for other animals, in small portions. If you don’t want to take risks, pay attention to ready-made, high-quality food that has proven itself well. Some types also have a healing effect.
Find out what pond aerators are.
Tetra
The company is a leader in the production of products for aquariums and garden fish farming. For cold-water fish, she offers the following food:
- Tetra Pond Sticks (universal food in the form of floating sticks);
- Tetra Pond Sticks Mini (food for small fish, suitable for fry);
- Tetra Pond Color Sticks (food that improves fish color)
- Tetra Goldfish (flakes and sticks for goldfish and other crucian carp);
- TetraPond Holiday (for feeding pond fish during vacation);
Nutritious food is suitable for all types of cold-water fish, including crucian carp. Price for 250 ml jars – from 150 rubles.
JBL
Goldfish food from this company is well suited for providing proper nutrition for crucian carp in a garden pond. The following foods are suitable for crucian carp:
- JBL NovoRed (universal food in the form of flakes);
- JBL NovoPearl (universal food based on wheat germ);
- JBL NovoRed refill (universal food in special packaging).
The price of a 100 ml jar is from 110 rubles.
OTTO
Two types of food from this manufacturer are suitable for crucian carp:
- OTTO Goldfish (for golden fish);
- OTTO Koi Food (for koi).
They can also be used to prevent digestive problems in captive fish. Price for a 250 ml package. – 100 rub.
To ensure that your pond is enriched with oxygen, you can use.
Video
The video shows how to breed and what to feed crucian carp in a pond at the dacha.
There are cheaper feeds from domestic producers. Today there are quite a lot of them on the market. You can buy them at pet stores and veterinary pharmacies. The choice will depend on how much you are willing to spend and your free time.
When going through the hassle of organizing feeding crucian carp in the pond, remember that they will all result in positive emotions from fishing in your own garden at any time. In this case, you will not need to think about biting. And just relaxing by the pond with goldfish is a great way to spend time and give you a boost of positivity.
Only a few species of fish are as well known among people as crucian carp
This is one of the most common fish in our inland waters. However, not everyone knows that it is among crucian carp that forms with amazing biological properties have been discovered, the study of which can suggest the correct answer to important theoretical questions.
Numerous breeds of aquarium fish have been bred from wild crucian carp, striking in their quirkiness and diversity of body shape and color. Of course, not only aquarium lovers or scientists engaged in theoretical research are interested in crucian carp.
Crucian carp - description of fish
Crucian carp are among the main commercial fish of small lakes and many other small reservoirs of the European part of Russia, Siberia and the Far East. According to far from complete data, the annual catch of crucian carp reaches many tens of thousands of centners. Crucian carp are successfully used for breeding and growing in ponds; crucian carp, along with other valuable species of fish, are introduced into many newly created reservoirs. It is useful to familiarize yourself with the biology of crucian carp for everyone who is involved in fish farming, who is interested in sport fishing, and who is not alien to concerns about preserving and increasing the fish wealth of our inland waters.
Crucians belong to the carp family ( Cyprinidae). This family is very rich in fish species, widespread in freshwater (partly brackish) waters of Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.
In the carp family, the genus of crucian carp ( Carassius) is closest to the genus carp ( Cyprinus), from which it differs in the absence of antennae near the mouth (carp and carp have two pairs of them, unlike crucian carp), the structure of the pharyngeal teeth, a higher body and other characteristics. One of the anterior rays of the dorsal fin of crucian carp, namely the last - a hard, unbranched ray in crucian carp, is weakly serrated. This, as well as some other signs of crucian carp, are also characteristic of carp.
In our country there are two types of crucian carp: common crucian carp or golden carp ( Carassius carassius) and silver carp ( Carassius auratus gibelio). The last species of crucian carp in our waters is a subspecies of the typical silver crucian carp found in China.
Golden carp
Golden crucian carp usually has a dark back, dark golden sides, and its peritoneum is light. Silver tones predominate in the color of silver crucian carp; its peritoneum is almost black. There are fewer gill rakers on the first gill arch in the goldfish than in the silverfish (23-33 in the former and 39-50 in the latter), and its intestines are shorter. The last two features are associated with differences in the feeding patterns of crucian carp.
Adult golden crucian carp feeds mainly on bottom invertebrates: larvae of mosquitoes (bloodworms), mayfly larvae and other representatives of the benthos (i.e., the population of the bottom of the reservoir). In the nutrition of adult goldfish, a significant role is played by the smallest invertebrates and algae that live in the water column (plankton). The more numerous gill rakers help the goldfish retain planktonic organisms when filtering water through the gills. The lengthening of the intestines of crucian carp is due to the fact that planktonic organisms (especially algae) are digested more slowly than many bottom-dwelling invertebrate animals, such as bloodworms.
Golden carp
Golden crucian carp is distributed in the European part of Russia and in Siberia up to the Lena River. There are no goldfish in the Far East. Golden crucian carp is found mainly in small, heavily overgrown or swampy lakes, less often in sections of rivers with very slow flows. Silver crucian carp lives in the Far East, Siberia and in a number of reservoirs in the European part of the country. Silver crucian carp can be found not only in small, but also in large lakes and even in river beds.
Crucian carp are distinguished by great endurance and unpretentiousness to water quality. Crucian carp are able to temporarily tolerate a sharp decrease in the amount of oxygen dissolved in water until the complete disappearance of this gas, a significant increase in acidity (pH 4.5), and a drop in temperature to almost zero. Golden crucian carp sometimes even freezes into ice in winter and still does not die if the internal fluids of its body do not freeze. On the other hand, crucian carp can tolerate drying out of the reservoir in summer. Crucian carp often inhabit heavily polluted village ponds and swampy reservoirs with acidic water, in which no other fish can live.
Golden crucian carp grows rather slowly, silver crucian carp grows somewhat faster, but in this respect it is significantly inferior to carp, and even more so to cultivated breeds of carp. In lakes with average food supply, yearlings of golden crucian carp weigh 6-8 g, two-year-olds - 50-60 g, three-year-olds - 100-110 g. The fishing weight of golden crucian carp rarely exceeds 0.5 kg. But in particularly favorable conditions, golden crucian carp can reach a very significant weight: up to 5 kg! But in small lakes or ponds densely populated with golden carp of different ages, it degenerates into a low-bodied, large-headed, slowly growing fish, remaining very small even by the time of puberty.
Differences between gold and silver crucian carp
Silver crucian carp often reaches a weight of over 1 kg. In some natural bodies of water (lakes) and especially in ponds, it grows quite quickly. Thus, in Lake Bolon (Amur River basin), three-year-old silver crucian carp have an average weight of about 270 g.
In Lake Kenon near the city of Chita, amateurs catch crucian carp with a fishing rod, usually weighing about one kilogram.
The great variability in the weight of crucian carp, their ability to easily form fast-growing or, on the contrary, slow-growing dwarf forms, is one of the manifestations of the extraordinary biological “plasticity” of these fish. The fish beloved by aquarists: veiltails, telescopes, comets, shubunkins and many others, often having the most bizarre shape and unusually beautiful coloring, were artificially bred by fish farmers in China and Japan from silver crucian carp, or more precisely from goldfish, which itself is a colored form ( "chromist") of silver crucian carp.
In China, hundreds of forms of goldfish have been bred from crucian carp.
Crucian carp and carp - differences
The closest relative of crucian carp is carp. True, they differ markedly in the following characteristics;
- the weight of an adult crucian carp does not exceed 3 kg, and the length is half a meter; carp can grow up to 20 kg or more, and its length can be twice as long;
- crucian carp does not have a mustache, but carp has two pairs of small antennae;
- crucian carp meat has more small bones, while carp is not so bony;
- during the spawning period, carp lay three times more eggs than crucian carp (up to 1,500,000 versus 300,000);
- carp can live up to 35 years, while crucian carp live on average 10 years.
What is the difference between crucian carp and carp?
Despite the fact that, as stated above, crucian carp belongs to the carp family, it is quite easy to distinguish it from carp by the following characteristics:
- the average crucian carp weighs from 200 to 500 g, the largest specimens reach a mass of 3 kg and a length of 50-60 cm. Carps are much larger in size and often exceed 20 kg in weight and a meter in length;
- the crucian carp lacks the mustache that the carp has;
- the lips of a crucian carp are much thinner than the thick, fleshy lips of a carp;
- crucian carp has lighter and smaller scales than carp;
- the head of the crucian carp is smooth without bends, while the head of the carp has a hump slightly below the forehead;
- crucian carp has a narrower and taller body, and carp is more elongated in length, fuller;
- Crucian carp meat is white and has a lot of bones; carp meat has significantly fewer bones and is pinkish in color.
- in carp, the dorsal fin has a pronounced spike and a depression in the middle, and the fin of crucian carp is even in shape without notches.
Reproduction of crucian carp
Crucian carp - both gold and silver - reach sexual maturity at the age of 3-4 years, and with abundant feeding - even at the age of 2 years. But in the northern regions, the onset of puberty may be delayed for a year or more.
Golden crucian carp spawns at a water temperature of at least 14°C, usually at a temperature of 17-18°C and above. The eggs are spawned by the female goldfish in portions, most often in 3 doses, at intervals of 10 days or more. Spawning of golden crucian carp can be very extended. It may begin in May, but last until August. Silver crucian carp usually spawns slightly later than golden crucian carp. The fertility of golden crucian carp reaches 300 thousand eggs, silver crucian carp - almost 400 thousand eggs.
The reproduction process of golden crucian carp does not differ significantly from this process in other egg-laying fish.
In different bodies of water, herds of golden crucian carp, like most other species of fish, consist of half females and half males. The eggs laid by golden crucian females are fertilized by the milk of male golden crucian carp and develop within 5-7 days, adhering to the stems of aquatic vegetation.
But the reproduction of some herds of silver crucian carp is distinguished by one striking feature, discovered so far only in silver crucian carp, in the fish Molliesia formosa (from viviparous toothed carp) and in two or three other little-known species of animals.
In the reservoirs of the Far East, herds of silver crucian carp include both female and male crucian carp, and in most cases the latter are only slightly smaller than the former. But in many reservoirs of the Urals and the European part of Russia, mainly or even exclusively female silver crucian carp live; scientists could not find males in a number of these reservoirs, despite the most thorough searches.
Silver crucian carp, which are now bred in large numbers in many pond fish farms, also “get by” without males of their species. For example, the already mentioned herd of silver crucian carp from the Savvinsky experimental fish farm was obtained from one female silver crucian carp, brought there before the war. During all this time, a single male silver crucian carp was discovered on the fish farm, and even that one could not be preserved.
How do silver crucian carp from “maleless” herds reproduce? It turns out that they spawn with males of other fish species, such as carp, carp, tench, golden crucian carp, etc. It would not be surprising if, as a result of such spawning, ordinary crosses of crucian carp (hybrids) with more or less clearly expressed characteristics of both parents appeared.
Similar hybrids have been repeatedly obtained, for example, from female goldfish and male carp. They even tried to grow them in ponds of poor water quality, unsuitable for carp, since “carp-crucian” hybrids to a certain extent combine the good growth of carp with the endurance of crucian carp. Unfortunately, they appear to be infertile. But in the offspring of crossing a female goldfish (from a “maleless” herd) with males of other fish species, paternal characteristics cannot be reliably detected. This offspring, in all its characteristics, repeats the maternal form of the silver crucian carp, that is, it consists only of silver crucian carp and, moreover, only females.
In a word, the maternal heredity of the goldfish completely absorbs the paternal one. It is not without reason that many scientists call this original method of reproduction gynogenesis, which in Russian translation means “the birth of females.”
However, it is very likely that the influence of the paternal species still takes place, but it is expressed not by the appearance of intermediate characters, but by an improvement in the general physiological state and accelerated growth of silver crucian carp. However, this conclusion has not yet been proven by indisputable data. Still, fish farmers recommend not placing just any random fish for spawning with silver carp, but good, strong and healthy male carp, carp or other fish. You just need to make sure that the female goldfish and the male of another fish species do not differ too much from each other in size.
Special microscopic studies prove that when silver crucian carp spawns with males of other fish species, real fertilization of eggs occurs. Each egg begins to develop (split) only after the male sperm penetrates it. But judging by the results of the same microscopic study, from the moment the sperm penetrates the goldfish egg, subtle internal processes unfold that are noticeably different from those that occur during fertilization of the eggs of other fish. This is not surprising, since the described phenomenon of complete absorption of paternal heredity, characteristic of silver crucian carp, must have some kind of material basis.
Probably, the goldfish acquired the ability to reproduce in such an original way during the period of gradual settlement to the west from its homeland (the Far East). It could have happened that only single female silver crucian carp penetrated into certain reservoirs. In such cases, gynogenesis is the only way to “assign” a new reservoir to the goldfish as an independent biological species with all its typical characteristics and properties. With the usual hybridization of silver crucian carp, these characters and properties would first be “diluted” by the characters of the paternal species, and subsequently completely lost.
The breeding characteristics of silver crucian carp must be taken into account when carrying out its spawning in pond fish farms. And silver crucian carp deservedly becomes one of the most important fish used in pond fish farming. In most pond farms, silver crucian carp are grown as additional fish in carp feeding ponds. When carp are reared together with silver crucian carp, the fish productivity of ponds increases, since the grown carp feed almost exclusively on benthos, and silver crucian carp, even at an older age, retains the ability to effectively use plankton.
Goldfish are sometimes raised independently as a staple fish. To do this, it makes sense to use ponds that are unsuitable for carp due to poor water and soil quality. As the main fish, silver crucian carp can also be grown in northern regions, where breeding carp or carp is no longer effective due to low temperatures. In such cases, local goldfish can also be used. Growing golden crucian carp together with carp is unprofitable, since golden crucian carp consumes the same food as carp (benthos), and grows much more slowly.
In some cases, it is useful to temporarily transfer to the cultivation of crucian carp certain pond farms that are unfavorable for fish (carp) diseases, if all other measures to combat these diseases for some reason do not produce results, and a complete cessation of the farm’s activities for several years is unacceptable. Growing crucian carp sometimes helps the farm get rid of fish diseases, since crucian carp are much less susceptible to many dangerous diseases than carp.
Finally, growing crucian carp (along with carps) is also beneficial because it improves the quality range of pond farming products. After all, crucian carp meat has excellent taste and high nutritional value. For example, silver carp contains up to 60% edible parts in its body, that is, even more than carp. The fat content of crucian carp reaches 6-7%, the protein content is 18% of live weight.
But when breeding and growing crucian carp (independently and as an additional fish to carp), you must strictly follow all the rules of cultural pond fish farming, otherwise crucian carp can easily turn from a useful and valuable fish into a weed that will be difficult to fight. It should also be borne in mind that the ability of silver crucian carp to reproduce with males of other fish species (reproducing only females in the offspring) may be lost due to improper management or as a result of other, as yet unknown reasons. After all, this ability was undoubtedly acquired by the silver crucian carp in the process of its historical development and, moreover, acquired in relatively recent (geological) times. It is possible that this ability of the silver crucian carp is not yet firmly established hereditarily (this is indicated, in particular, by the fact that male silver crucian carp exist not only in the Far East).
The great plasticity of the hereditary properties of crucian carp allows us to hope that fish breeders will be able to develop new valuable breeds of pond fish from them. But even now silver crucian carp can be strongly recommended to fish farms, first of all, as an additional fish to carp.
With strict adherence to fish farming standards and rules for growing silver crucian carp together with carp, it is possible to increase the fish productivity of feeding ponds by 1.1/2.2 times and significantly increase the profitability of the farm.