The history of the development of fish from the Carp family started even before the Ice Age. Archaeologists have found fossils of these individuals in many corners of the Earth. Now the family includes 367 genera and more than 3 thousand species. At the same time, individuals are characterized by specific features and differences that affect size, diet, lifestyle and much more.
Description of the family
Cyprinidae belong to the family of ray-finned fish, which includes more than 3 thousand specimens of different breeds. These are predominantly commercial species, which are caught en masse in the basins of the Azov, Aral, and Caspian seas. Carp fish are considered popular for various reasons. Their meat is easily digestible and contains minimal bones. The indisputable advantage of such individuals is the ease of processing.
Habitat
Representatives of the family in question live in freshwater bodies of water. However, some species can easily survive in sea water. Such fish are mainly considered heat-loving, but they are able to adapt to different temperatures. Therefore, depending on the time of year, cyprinids live at different depths.
Such fish are often found in water bodies of North America, Africa, Asia and Europe. The only exception is South America. Cyprinids are also found in Australia, although they arrived on the continent only at the end of the nineteenth century.
It is noteworthy that fish that live in sea water move to fresh water to spawn. Females often lay eggs on seaweed leaves. They also use flat stones and even bivalve shells for this purpose.
What do Carp eat?
Carp breeds do not have any particular dietary preferences. At the same time, they are characterized by seasonal gluttony, which occurs in spring and summer. With the onset of the cold season, the need for excess food decreases.
The Karpov diet contains both plant and animal foods. Such individuals feed on insects, algae, and small fish. They also consume benthic organisms. When hungry, fish can eat carrion from the bottom of the reservoir and even their own fry.Karpov's undemanding diet makes the process of breeding easier.
Representatives of the family
Carp fish stay in schools during birth and growth. As they develop, they form smaller groups. At the same time, adults prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle. Under natural conditions, maximum fish activity is observed in the warm season - from late April to September. Moreover, such individuals demonstrate the highest nutritional need in June. At this moment, after a long winter stagnation and spring spawning, individuals begin to feed around the clock.
In their natural habitat, Cyprinids are capable of growing to impressive sizes. Officially recorded fish weighed up to 50 kilograms. Another feature is that carps are considered long-lived. Under natural conditions, they live up to 40-50 years. In an artificial environment, this figure increases to 100 years. Below is a list of the most famous members of the family.
Carp and carp
Carps are the name given to fish that are grown in bodies of water. At the same time, wild carp are classified as carp. Both species are considered freshwater. They are characterized by active growth and reproduction. These types of fish are characterized by excellent taste and tender meat. In addition to their commercial value, such individuals are considered objects of sport and recreational hunting.
Gudgeon
If we consider visual signs, the gudgeon is characterized by a small fleshy body and antennae. This fish is not a commercial fish. It often becomes a food source for predators. Minnows live in warm lakes and rivers, which are characterized by moderate currents. At the same time, the question often arises what types of minnows exist. These include the following:
- ordinary - most common;
- real;
- pseudorasbora - reaches a length of 10 centimeters, lacks antennae, and the body is covered with large scales.
Minnows reach a length of 22 centimeters. They are distinguished by a dark body color with a greenish tint. There are small dots on the fins. The diet of minnows is based on invertebrates and eggs of other fish.
Bream
This is a common variety that has commercial significance. Bream have a unique appearance. Thanks to this, an adult can be easily distinguished from a young one. The length of bream reaches 0.8 meters. Moreover, its weight does not exceed 6 kilograms.
Bream differs from other fish in its tall body. Usually the height reaches a third of the total length of the body. In addition, this fish has a small head. On the back there is a short and high fin, which includes a dozen soft rays.
Bream is considered a cautious and timid fish that has excellent hearing. This feature must be taken into account when fishing. This representative of the Karpovs is found in lakes and rivers. It can also be found in reservoirs. In rivers, this fish can reach enormous sizes. Bream prefers to stay in schools, in which there are representatives of different ages - from the smallest to the largest.
In addition to small crustaceans, bream feed on bloodworms that live in the bottom soil. Since this fish has rather weak pharyngeal teeth, it prefers bottom invertebrates and crustaceans. In addition, bream actively consume aquatic vegetation.
Chub
This species of Karpov lives in the Euphrates and Northern Dvina. Also, one of the subspecies of chub is found in Caucasian reservoirs. The fish does not exceed 80 centimeters in length.Moreover, her weight is 8 kilograms. The dorsal part is dark in color. In addition, the fish has silvery sides and orange fins of a reddish hue. The chub is characterized by a wide head.
This fish lives in reservoirs with strong currents. It is very rare in stagnant waters. The chub is considered an omnivore. It is not a commercial breed, but is often used in sport fishing competitions.
Vobla
This small commercial fish from the Cyprinidae family lives in river mouths and the Caspian Sea. The maximum length of the roach does not exceed 40 centimeters, and the weight is up to 1 kilogram. This fish feeds on small invertebrates. Also in its diet there are crustaceans and worms.
The fins of the roach are distinguished by a reddish tint with a dark border along the edges. It is characterized by small fins and a mouth. In this case, the eyes are distinguished by a silver or orange iris. There is a noticeable seal on the back. At the same time, the body itself is slightly flattened.
Silver carp
This species of Carp lives in fresh Asian waters. Silver carp is also found in the north and northeast of America and New Zealand. A distinctive feature of this fish is its low-set eyes. It also has a raised mouth, which is characterized by an inverted shape.
Juveniles are light silver in color. At the same time, adult fish have a silvery belly and a greenish back. Silver carp are characterized by small scales and sharp spines in the caudal and dorsal fins. Young fish consume zooplankton. As the silver carp grows, it begins to eat phytoplankton.
Through the gills, the fish is able to filter the smallest particles of detritus. Due to this, it can act as a reclamation agent for a reservoir.To digest a lot of algae, the fish has a very long intestine, which is 10 times larger than the size of its own body.
White amur
These adult members of the Carp family are capable of consuming a lot of vegetation. In a short period of time, grass carp can eat as much algae as it weighs. That’s why people often use this fish to clean canals and reservoirs.
In the second half of the last century, these individuals were released into a large number of reservoirs in Eastern European countries that suffered from an excess of algae. The fish adapted perfectly to new places. At the same time, low temperatures prevent its spawning in these zones.
Grass carp is considered a cautious fish, which can be very difficult to catch. Only feeding will help with this. The fish lives well in small bodies of water and can reach large sizes.
An adult can grow up to 120 centimeters in length. Its average weight is 30 kilograms. Grass carp is characterized by dense scales and a fairly wide forehead. There are light fins on the sides of the body. At the same time, on the back and abdomen they are characterized by darker shades. The body of the fish itself can have different colors - from golden to greenish.
Verkhovka
This small fish belongs to the order Carp. Its size does not exceed 5-7 centimeters. The verkhovka is characterized by an elongated body and light color with dots. This individual prefers clean water bodies. It is a carnivore and feeds on small beetles and insect larvae. In reservoirs, the verkhovka tries to stay closer to the surface. This is its main difference from other members of the family.
Rudd and roach
Rudd is a small fish from the Carp family.It received this name because of the special color of its fins. These individuals are found in the backwaters of large and small rivers, which are characterized by a small current. Rudd also lives in ponds and lakes that are densely overgrown with reeds. This fish does not tolerate fast and clean water, therefore it cannot be found in mountain rivers with a high oxygen content.
Based on visual characteristics, the rudd is often mistaken for a roach. However, these fish are characterized by noticeable differences:
- the eyes of the rudd are distinguished by an orange border, which cannot be said about the roach;
- the color of the rudd's fins is more pronounced;
- the body of the rudd is abundantly covered with mucus;
- rudd is characterized by smaller scales.
Roach is considered less demanding in terms of living conditions. It is found everywhere in water bodies. Usually its quantity is very large.
Gustera
This fish is considered undemanding in terms of nutrition, so it is not difficult to catch. Gustera is small in size. Its maximum weight is 1.5 kilograms. This fish is found in warm European waters. She tries to stay close to the bottom and hides behind the roots of bushes and thickets of algae. This species is often found in the lower reaches of rivers, where the current becomes less intense.
The basis of the diet of the silver bream is considered to be algae and insects. Visually, it resembles a bream. The body of this fish is elongated upward and flattened. At the same time, it is distinguished by a relatively small head. There is a long fin on the back of the silver bream. The fish is also distinguished by large, light-colored scales.
Asp
The main types of asp include the following fish:
- ordinary or European - found in European countries;
- red-lipped - lives in the reservoirs of the Southern and Middle Caspian Sea;
- Aral - inhabits the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers.
A characteristic feature of this fish is the absence of a stomach. Instead, an empty tube runs from the mouth all the way to the tail. Therefore, the food eaten by the asp immediately enters the intestines. There it is digested much faster. This arrangement of internal organs speeds up the metabolic process. That's why the asp constantly eats. In this case, the predator consumes not only small fish, but also other animal food.
The distinctive features of this fish include a gray-blue back, white belly and silver-gray sides. The caudal and dorsal fins have gray shades. In this case, the tips are characterized by a dark color. The bottom of the fins is slightly longer than the top.
When young, the asp primarily consumes worms and insects. It also eats small crustaceans and other small animal foods. When individuals reach 30 centimeters, they turn into classic predators. During this period, the asp begins to hunt for fry of roach and bream. At the same time, he continues to absorb worms and other animal food.
Carps for aquariums
Aquarium specimens from the Karpov family are also popular among hobbyists. They are often bred by selective breeding, but there are fish that reproduce in nature and easily adapt to life in a limited space.
Bocia
This fish is characterized by a bright color. In nature, it can reach impressive sizes. This should definitely be taken into account by breeders. To breed botia, you will need a medium or large aquarium. The fish is often called a clown. This is due to the color characteristics and playful nature.
Barbus
A total of 15 varieties of these fish are known. Barbus prefers to feed on tubifex and bloodworms. Plant foods may also be present in his diet. This fish gets along easily with other fish.
Algae eaters
This representative of the Karpov family is characterized by its small size. It is quite popular among people who have home aquariums. These fish feed on harmful algae. Thanks to this, they help cleanse the space.
Labeo
This small representative of the Karpov family in captivity can reach a length of 12 centimeters. He eats any food and has excellent contact with other inhabitants of the aquarium.
Danio rerio (brachydanio rerio)
This variety responds well to genetic changes that are made during the selection process. This significantly affects the visual characteristics of the fish. Danio rerio is characterized by its small size and does not exceed 5 centimeters in length. This subspecies of Carp for the aquarium has many varieties. Among them it is worth highlighting the following types:
- chopra;
- cherry;
- pearl;
- rerio;
- leopard print
Rasbora
This representative of the family belongs to small tropical fish. Such individuals are found in warm fresh waters, forming schools. You can safely breed them at home. Rasbora is easy to care for and maintain.
Goldfish
This is the most famous carp fish suitable for aquariums. Nowadays there are many types of goldfish. They easily get along with other inhabitants of aquariums. Goldfish eat detritus and plant matter.
The Karpov family is considered extensive and includes many representatives. They differ in a number of characteristics - visual characteristics, lifestyle, dietary features.
