Carp Fish Farming in India: How to Start, A Step-By-Step Guide for Beginners

The Carp is a common name for various freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae. Carp fish farming is a very lucrative and popular business. Carp culture is based on management methods developed over the years after in-depth research using different agro-environmental conditions. It is defined as the rearing of fish for commercial purposes.

Based on the environment in which the culture is grown, fish farming can be classified as freshwater, brackish water, brackish water, or marine fish farming. Carp culture is the oldest form of aquaculture known in the world. Currently, two-thirds of the fish produced is Carp. Cyprinidae is a family of freshwater fish that includes corpses and their relatives. It is called the “Carp family.” Cyprinidae is the largest family of fish and the largest family of vertebrates.

Benefits of Carp fish farming in India

Commercial Carp fish farming is very simple and easy.
You can use your existing pond or tank to grow Carp.
You can also use your roof to raise these fish.
Farm Carp are more nutritious than wild fish.
Eat feeds from different levels.
Fish do not fight each other for food.
Each fish lives on its surface.
Good disease resistance.
Gain weight fast and gain weight fast.
Minnow can easily find.
Eat a low-cost sub-diet.
High demand in the market.
There is economic value. Minnow can be produced through the artificial breeding of fish.

Characters of cultivable Carp fish

The following criteria should be considered before selecting fish for farming purposes.

Growth rate: Fish that grow large in a short period is suitable for culture—for example, the Carps.
Adapts to the climate: cultured fish species must adapt to the farm’s local climatic conditions.
Tolerance: Fish must withstand wide fluctuations in the natural chemical conditions of water, such as oxygen, salts, and temperature.
Acceptance of artificial feeding: When large numbers of fish need to be kept in a confined space, additional feeding is required on a mixed diet. Fish should show a ready preference for these feeds.
Resistance: The reared fish must be strong enough to resist the attack of common diseases and parasites.

Carp fish growth factors

The specific developmental stages of common Carp are; depending on their duration:

Environmental conditions: climate, water temperature, water quality, and food availability; and
Cultural conditions: fish density, natural food production capacity/pond production, and used food.

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In tropical conditions, the common Carp continues to grow, but in the temperate region, its growth is hampered by the cold months of autumn and spring, as well as winter. For this reason, the net duration of the production season is within the period when the common Carp feeds and grows too much. That is when the water temperature exceeds 18-20°C.

The growth potential of common Carp is very high. If the water temperature is right, its many shapes and strains can reach approximately 0.2–0.3 kg, 1–1.2 kg, and 2.5–3.5 kg within 2–3, 5–7, and 10–14 months, respectively. Nevertheless, the economically viable individual weights of the common Carp of different age groups are approximately 0.025–0.05 kg/fingerling, 0.25–0.5 kg/farmer, and 1.2–1.8 kg/table fish.

Select an area for Carp fish farming

First, you must choose a very good, quiet, and safe place to start a Carp-fishing business. Firstly, you want to choose a great site to start your Carp fish farming business. The selected site should be free from noise and any other type of pollution. And also, ensure full sun availability when choosing a site with good soil quality for farming. The site should also be away from the aircraft’s land and flooded area.

However, you can also start raising grass Carp if your existing pond is suitable for it. You can either start a business in your existing or new farm area. Carp live in murky water and are easily spooked when the water is clear. So, look at the muddy water with dense vegetation along the shoreline, backwater, and side channels. Carp spend most of their time feeding insects among aquatic plants. Early morning is the best time to find Carp. Look at the riverbanks for the characteristic muddy waters and watch the fish move.

Consider the following factors when choosing an area for this business.

Try to choose a quiet and noisy area.
The total area of land selected should include everything you need for this business.
It is best to avoid flooding and contaminated areas.
Don’t choose land near a crop field, as farmers usually use a lot of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These chemicals and pesticides will contaminate your pond water.
Make sure there is a good transportation system in your chosen area. Proper marketing of your product requires a good transportation system.
It would be better if your chosen land is a little less than the main water source. It will help you reduce the cost of filling your pond with water. Natural gravity will fill the earth at no cost. But if you want to start in tanks, you don’t have to worry about that.

Methods of Carp fish farming

Methods of Carp fish farming depend on the area or environment, availability of equipment, financial situation, knowledge, and skills of the farmer. The method of farming was established on this basis.

Traditional Method

The traditional method of farming fish based on natural food is called the traditional farming method. The stock of minnow in this system can be more or less. The cannibalistic habit of fish is not removed. No food was served outside the pool. Fish production from this system is very low.

Semi-Intensive Method

The semi-intensive method is to prepare the pond according to scientific principles, use fertilizer and extra food regularly, and cultivate more fish in a small space. In this system, fertilizer is used to grow natural fish food. Every level of food in the pond should be appropriately used. So, we have to choose the right breed. If food from a natural source is not enough, they should offer food from outside. It is widely used for Carp fish farming methods.

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Intensive method

This system is to cultivate fish for a little space for more production. This method uses high-quality feed and fertilizer. Fish are farmed in a high density. The use of technology in this system is high.

Basic principles of Carp fish culture

Use fast-growing non-predatory fish that use natural and supplementary food effectively.
Use compatible species for food and space – not competitors.
They are stocking all water reservoirs and food resources with the proper total population for the adequate use of each species.
Increase the carrying capacity of pond fish through the proper application of fertilizers and increase the storage density by providing additional feed.

Manipulation of fish numbers during culture through intermediate harvest.

Culturing of Carp fish

Fish rearing involves all of the following steps:

Spawning: Spawning can be natural or artificial. Broad fish grow naturally on spawning pond plants. Artificially bred fish are made for breeding in hatcheries by injecting hormones.

Larvae stage: In the pre-larvae stage, newly hatched fry emerges from the eggs. During the larval stage, the fry floats up and is called the hanging fry. These fries are eaten on rotifers as their first food.

Nursing stage: Carps can be raised in general ponds and specially constructed tanks. If there are many hunters in the pond area, tanks are the best option. Tanks or ponds should have a dense population of Paramecium and rotifers. Nursed fry enter adolescence and are now called fingerling. Fingerlings should be fed with artificial proteins as well as natural foods.

Supplemental feeds & feeding for Carp fish

In addition to using manures and other fertilizers, excessive use of feed can reduce pond water quality. In the case of common Carp pond culture, the combined use of natural fish feed and an additional and balanced diet is a technique that promotes both a good pond environment and better fish nutrition. The common Carp easily eats grains and pelleted food.

Supplementary feeds may be cereals and by-products but may also include compounded forms or commercial feeds. A common feature of such additional feeds is that none of them, when used alone, ensure a biologically perfectly balanced diet for the common Carp. With these feeds, natural fish feed still needs to be used in certain proportions. Otherwise, the fish will not grow properly. It is because they do not meet all the nutritional needs of Carp.

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Essential proteins, minerals, and vitamins are missing from such a diet. The role of natural fish feed in a pond decreases as the intensity of production increases. In parallel with the intensity of normal Carp production, the importance of food also increases. In large-scale and semi-deep production, affordable, energy-rich feeds supplement natural protein-rich foods. As production intensifies, a better and more complete diet is needed.

A good practice is adding the extra and balanced feed to the Carp when standing biomass increases. The proportion of protein-rich supplementary feeds increases in the mixture, or various grains (wheat, corn, millet, etc.) are supplemented with pelleted compound feeds. The proportion of compound feed in the mix increases parallel to the standing crop of common Carp.

Supplementary feed culture is essential in fisheries because the natural food available in the pond is insufficient for rapid fish growth and high production. Supplementary food, which includes rice polish, mustard oil cake, vitamins, mineral mixture, etc., is provided by placing it in the four corners of the pond or placing it in a tray on a bamboo pole placed in the pond it is reduced. Fed waste covers about 50% of annual recurring costs.

Fertilizer application in ponds

Fertilizer application in ponds is very important for Carp fish farming. Fertilizer helps grow natural food in the pond, which is very important for Carp farming. You need to know the condition of natural food before applying fertilizer. Because if you use more fertilizers according to the natural diet, it will damage the condition of the water.

Farmers must always strive to maintain water quality if they want better yields. The proper condition of water and natural food should be learned to use fertilizers and maintain good water conditions. Success in Carp fish farming depends on good water conditions and better management.

Different Carp fish species

Carps have been the mainstay of cultural practice in India. The three major Indian Carp, Catla, Rohu, and Mrigal, along with three exotic Carps, are Common Carp, Grass Carp, and Silver Carp, which contribute to more than 85% of the aquaculture production of the country.

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Most common species of Carp

Rui
Catla
Mrigal
Silver Carp
Grass Carp
Common Carp
Bighead Carp
Black Carp

Indian major Carps

Catla
Rohu
Mrigal

Popular exotic major Carps

Cyprinus Carp
Silver Carp
Grass Carp

Ideal conditions and pond aeration for Carp fish farming

Carp fish can be grown in ponds, lakes, cages, and tanks. They usually grow well in tropical areas. And the best growth and maximum yield are achieved when the water temperature is between 25°C and 30°C. And most species of Carp cannot tolerate salinity. Water exchange is another important activity that is considered important in intensive aquaculture.

Due to the constant accumulation of metabolites and decayed unused feed, water quality deteriorates, slows fish species’ growth, and often leads to the spread of diseases. Thus, it is necessary to change a certain amount of water at regular intervals, especially in the case of severe cultural practices during the later part of the cultural period.

Health management: Fish seeds should be bathed in 3-5% potassium permanganate for 15 seconds before stocking. Disease incidence is common in high stocking densities. Although mortality is rare in well-organized ponds, parasitic infections severely affect fish farming, which requires participation.

Caring for Carp fish

Taking good care of the Carp fish is very important for proper growth and maximum production of the caring fish. Therefore, always try to feed them with good quality and take good care of them. Try to maintain water quality, and monitor their health regularly.

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Harvesting Carp fish

Carps are usually raised in undrainable drainage ponds with long harvesting ditches. It should be removed slowly during harvesting. Because Carp tend to swim inward, a small amount of water is poured into a pond near the drainage site to concentrate the fish. Aeration should be provided when many fish are concentrated in the harvesting pits. Finally, the fish are harvested with a drag net.

Conclusion

Carp fish are significant economically, and many people are doing this business as a full-time business. Therefore, this business is an excellent source of employment for rural people. Traditionally, Carp are raised in mud ponds. But today, people are growing these fish in tanks and using very little space. Therefore, you can follow the above steps for starting Carp fish farming in India.

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