Silver carp is a large schooling fish characterized by strength and endurance. The fish is fast and fast. Hunting for such a fish is a fascinating process. Silver carp has its own behavioral traits, which are important to know not only to fishermen, but also to those who decide to engage in the breeding and rearing of this fish.
Description of silver carp
Silver carp is also called silver carp, big-headed. The fish is large in size, with a length of 1.5 meters, the weight of the fish can reach more than 27 kilograms. Officially registered weight of 50 kilograms. Fishermen are diligently trying to catch captured fish, because it is appreciated not only for its impressive size, but also for its nutritional value, useful properties and unique taste.
The fish has silver sides. The color of the belly varies from silver-white to pure white. The eyes are far on the head and slightly downward. Silver carp differs from other fish in the presence of a wide forehead and mouth.
On a large head of a silver carp there is a mouth without teeth. Visually, the mouth seems upturned. The mouth of the fish is a filtering apparatus that looks like spliced gills that are fused together. This structure contributes to better capture of the main source of food - plankton.
When the silver carp is resettled into artificial fish ponds, its effective conservation from pollution and water bloom is guaranteed. The silver carp has a long body, covered with small scales.
Types of Big Head
There are only three varieties of silver carp, which are characterized by different colors and significant differences in weight. These types of silver carp are distinguished:
Motley silver carp
The motley silver carp has a large head, large fins and a long tail. Adult individuals are characterized by coloration more closely related to black. There are spots on the sides. Young specimens have a golden color of skin and scales. Gills do not grow together in the stamens of the fish, due to which the fish can easily feed on zooplankton. Unlike the white silver carp, the keel on the belly starts from the ventral fins and reaches the anal feather.
The fish grows to 1.5 meters in length, and its maximum weight is 40-60 kilograms. The preferred food for fish is phytoplankton. Spawning occurs at the end of spring and beginning of summer, when the water temperature reaches 18-30 degrees. Fish reaches puberty by 2-6 years, depending on the habitat. The maximum fecundity is observed in the waters of Turkmenistan and Moldova: one female is capable of sweeping from 600 thousand to 1 million eggs.
It has a high economic value:
- land reclamation ponds;
- grows fast, gaining weight just as rapidly;
- the meat of the motley silver carp is of high quality and in demand.
White silver carp
The fish has a tall body, which has a silver color. A distinctive feature is a large head with low set eyes, dark fins. The maximum weight of the fish varies within 20 kilograms with a length of up to 1 meter. It is characterized by the presence of an abdominal keel, which begins in the cervical part of the fish, reaching the anal fin.
For feeding white fish, the optimum temperature is 25 degrees. For this reason, the flocks constantly move along the reservoir during the day, being in search of comfortable living conditions: in the morning they live near the coast, for lunch they choose the deeper places of the bays, settling in the middle layers of the reservoirs.
When colds come, closer to mid-autumn, white silver carp almost do not eat. An exception are those individuals that live in warm-water canals and reservoirs.
The unique structure of the gill apparatus allows the fish to feed on phytoplankton, filtering it from the water. The meat is characterized by high gastronomic value. Its fat content is from 4 to 23%, which increases with the age of the individual and weight gain.
The consistency of fish oil is similar in composition and properties to that of marine life. When used as a food, the level of cholesterol in the blood decreases. Recommended when following a diet. A delicious balyk is made from the meat of a white silver carp.
Hybrid
The hybrid silver carp was hatched by fertilizing the eggs of a white individual with the milk of variegated silver carp. The main derivative of this breeding is that the view includes all the best qualities of parents:
- instantly gaining weight, increasing in size as quickly as possible;
- prone to tolerate low water temperatures;
- possesses a small head in contrast to the white appearance;
- feeds on phytoplankton;
- scales and skin of this species are white.
Such features contribute to the fact that this species of fish is permissible to settle in colder regions and waters where it was previously impossible to do so.
Habitat and habitat
Silver carp was first bred in the 70s in the United States of America, where it was registered in several places in the Central and Southern parts. Silver carp prefer to live in the Mississippi River Basin, and immediately form spawning grounds. Fish was introduced around the world, which is why fishermen often hunt it in East Asia, Africa, Mexico, and the Antilles.
Silver carp lives in almost all reservoirs of Russia, but, as a rule, exclusively in those places where it was inhabited artificially. Usually, fish are launched in spring, forming flocks; they are fully mastered on the territory of the reservoir. During the period of water warming and growth of various vegetation, the activity of the fish decreases, the silver carp settles in one place.
As a rule, silver carp prefers to be in places with a silty bottom and soft aquatic vegetation, where the depth is not more than 3 meters. Before sunset and early morning, the fish moves closer to the shore. During the day, the silver carp tries to be away from the coast.
Behavior and lifestyle
Bolshegolov - fish engaged in the middle and upper layers of the depths. Fish are found in the waters of large rivers, backwaters, lakes, warm-water ponds, and floodplains that are connected to large rivers. They tend to live in still water and where there is a current. The ideal habitat for silver carp are quiet, warm waters with a light current. Fish does not linger in waters with a strong current - this scares him away. Favorite places are shallows with a light course, silty, sandy or rocky bottom, as well as artificial reservoirs, where there is a lot of nutrient plankton.
Going fishing, it is better to look for a silver carp in quiet backwaters that are far from major roads and city noise. Silver carp can tolerate a wide range of temperatures - from 0 to 40 degrees, low, oxygen level, a little salt water.
At different times of the year, the behavior of the fish changes:
- In the autumn period, when the water temperature is below 8 degrees, the silver carp actively accumulates the fat layer.
- In winter, the fish plunges into deep sleep, choosing pits at the bottom of the reservoir.
- In the spring, a lot of detritus and plankton appear in the water, due to which, after waking up, the fish goes in search of food. First, he examines the depths and only when the water temperature reaches 24 degrees, rises to the surface. During this period, due to severe hunger, the silver carp grabs any bait, which makes it easy to catch. In late May, fish can even be caught on a piece of cigarette filter or foam.
Under favorable conditions, fish can survive up to 20 years. In conditions of industrial farming, this is completely unprofitable, which is why fish are caught for sale when they reach 2-3 years, when the sizes are appropriate.
Diet
The diet of large-headed fish depends on the type and age of the fish. Mostly it is animal and plant plankton. The white silver carp prefers to eat plant foods - its menu consists of phytoplankton. The most delicious dish for him is the blue-green algae that appear in all fresh waters when the heat comes. Due to this, silver carp is a welcome guest in reservoirs with stagnant water, because eating algae contributes to the fight against the main source of diseases in the reservoir.
The motley silver carp likes the same nutrition as the white fish. But together with phytoplankton, he prefers to eat and small food of animal origin. Such a rich diet provides rapid growth, which leads to the achievement of large sizes.
Russian breeders managed to breed a silver carp hybrid by crossing a white and motley variety of fish. This led to the fact that one species received all the advantages. A hybrid fish has a small head, like a motley silver carp, but it boasts large sizes. Because of this, its menu is much wider. In addition to animal and plant plankton, the hybrid individual eats small crustaceans. In this case, the digestive system is adapted to special feed mixtures for artificial breeding.
Spawning
The puberty of silver carp occurs when the fish reaches the age of 5 years. The determination of fish that has reached maturity is carried out simply: the scales become a grayish-blue color. The spawning process begins in a pond when water is heated to a temperature of 20 degrees. As a rule, this is the end of May or the beginning of June.
With a fish weighing more than 20 kilograms, it is capable of scattering up to 3 million eggs. Females living in artificial ponds do not favor such indicators - the number of eggs is not more than 1 million.
Young animals that are born feed on zooplankton, due to the fact that the gill filter apparatus is not developed. This kind of nutrition promotes speedy mass gain. Fish can eat algae only after they have formed gills - when they reach a body length of 5 centimeters.
Natural enemies
The silver carp fry is threatened by a predatory pike, and extremely rarely large perch. After the silver carp is launched into the pond, the toothy predator categorically refuses artificial baits. Due to the attack of enemies, flocks of small silver carp become much less common. Such a threat to the population remains until the fish is 2 years old, when it gains sufficient weight and grows in size.
Also a danger is the fact that large heads are capable of harming the ichthyofauna of water bodies. Due to the eating of all types of plankton in large numbers, fry of other fish are left without a source of nutrition, which does not allow them to fully develop.
Disease
Silver carp is a carrier of Asian tapeworm, a parasite that has a negative effect on the development and growth of fish. Through the consumption of raw fish meat or a poorly thermally processed product, the likelihood of human damage is not excluded. The parasite develops in the human intestines, affecting the intestinal mucosa.
Symptoms of infection are vomiting, diarrhea, severe pain in the lower abdomen. If you notice signs after consuming silver carp products, you must go to the hospital and have a blood test done.
It will be possible to avoid infection if you fish in checked places, buy the product from bona fide sellers, and during cooking prepare the silver carp for a long heat treatment. When salting, keep the fish in salt for at least 5 days, followed by soaking.
Beneficial features
The energy value of 100 grams of silver carp is 86 calories. Depending on the method of preparation, age and size of the fish, the indicator varies. For example, when stewing, the calorie content of fish is 76 energy units, when frying - 71 calories.
Fish meat, which is 5 years old, is considered fatter, therefore, has a higher energy value. At the same time, the composition of meat contains useful easily digestible proteins and carbohydrates, omega-3, omega-6 acids, vitamins D, E and group B, provitamin A. The silver carp meat is rich in phosphorus, sulfur, iron, zinc, sodium, calcium.
Omega-3 and omega-6 acids with regular use in food improve human health:
- lower cholesterol;
- prevent the formation of malignant tumors;
- relieve from nervous disorders, depression, stress;
- reduce the risk of cardiovascular failure and hypertension.
Due to the huge amount of minerals in the fish, the growth of nails and hair improves; stimulated the production of iron-containing hemoglobin, which performs the function of gas exchange; toxic substances are removed from the body; reparative regeneration occurs, including skin.
People who suffer from diabetes mellitus, hypertension, gout, gastritis, low acidity are required to eat silver carp meat, preferably boiled, stewed or steamed. After a few weeks, there is a decrease in cholesterol, normalization of blood pressure.
Breeding and growing
Growing silver carp is a difficult process that requires the creation of special conditions. Water in the pond should be no more than 25 degrees. Fish are thermophilic, prefer the sun, silty bottom and ponds where there is a lot of vegetation. An ideal depth for fish is 3-4 meters. At dawn and sunset, silver carp floats in shallow water, hiding at the bottom during the day.
What is the fish fed during breeding?
The diet of silver carp consists of phytoplankton, zooplankton, which is a source of proteins. There are three varieties of silver carp, in which not only environmental, but also morphological differences. They are not similar in food preferences. White silver carp are schooling fish of medium size, consuming only phytoplankton. Motley silver carp are large fish that feed on zooplankton, which contributes to rapid growth and weight gain. Hybrids are large-sized fish that consume everything that motley and white silver carp eat.
Silver carp can also feed on artificial feed. Commercial masses reach already at the age of 2 years, because their weight reaches about 500-600 grams. Sexual maturity in fish occurs at the age of 3-5 years, when the body length is 50 centimeters.
Breeding silver carp is possible in the pond. Be sure to take into account the requirements for the conditions of detention, size and depth of the pond. It is desirable to separate individuals by size, due to which it will be possible to avoid the spread of diseases, improve the conditions of breeding and cultivation.
Pond construction
It is optimal to choose or cook a pond yourself, the size of which will be 200-300 square meters. It is filled with various plants for better attachment of eggs during the spawning process. Spawning grounds are used in late May or early June for no more than 14 days.
The first time the fish are transplanted after 5-7 weeks after birth. Up to 900 individuals fall on 1 hectare of the reservoir, if their growth is not more than 2 kilograms. For the first time, planted fish eat natural food, which must be regularly brought in large quantities to the bottom of the pond. Future producers are selected in the fall, placing them in a separate pond, where they will remain until spawning.
As a business, growing a silver carp is considered simple, but time-consuming, providing for compliance with the basic rules:
- Fish will not be able to get enough nutrients from feed at a water temperature of less than 18 degrees. All the energy that it will receive is spent on supporting life, and there are no reserves left.This leads to the fact that the fish is not gaining enough weight.
- Ponds must be regularly cleaned and disinfected, otherwise fish develop the development of infectious diseases.
- Agricultural products are subject to a certain agricultural tax. Due to this, the volume of sales should represent agricultural products in 70%. The main income is the profit received from processing or retail sales.
First of all, they thoroughly study the area of the site for fish farming, the depth of the pond, the possibility of supplying and discharging water. It will be possible to achieve profitability when growing a white or hybrid silver carp, because they grow quickly, and 80% of their body weight is suitable for eating. This helps to achieve an increase in the reservoir of up to 600 kilograms.
Costs and Payback
When calculating the cost of fish and feed, it is possible to calculate future profits. 5 tons of fish are placed on 10 hectares of the reservoir. The price of 1 kilogram of silver carp is on average 100 rubles. So, the income from the sale of this amount will be about half a million rubles. The costs include the purchase of feed, fishing, pond protection, transportation and advertising. Only by deducting all expenses will it be possible to calculate net profit. An increase of 1 kilogram of fish per 3 kg of feed is on average. Often, costs can be higher than profit, if you do not engage in the cultivation of feed in the area near the reservoir.
If the territory does not allow this, it is recommended to breed geese, but the pond should process pollution from living creatures. Geese fertilize the reservoir, clean it, thereby creating additional feeding for fish, exterminating fish parasites and carriers of their diseases. Geese also carry eggs, which they sell later, which provides a special benefit.
The organization of amateur fishing in a pond for taking a certain fee will not be superfluous as an additional income. This will not only popularize the enterprise, but also increase earnings. Silver carp are deep-sea and heavy fish: they do not bite, it is quite difficult to catch them. This ensures additional profit in relation to the complete absence of costs.
Catching silver carp
Catching a silver carp brings incredible pleasure, and the capture of a large specimen becomes the main trophy of a fisherman. To make the process easier, use float or bottom tackle, technoplankton. To take good fish will help the "right" bait.
On float tackle
It is believed that a simple way to catch a silver carp is a universal carp tackle for long casting. In this case, it is important to choose the right float - it must be transparent. Conventional floats can scare away fish. It is required to make a greater depth, although the fish can be no deeper than 15 centimeters from the surface.
If in the selected reservoir there are all kinds of sticks or reeds, balsa floats are used. But the float with the antenna is not placed in a vertical position - this can alert the silver carp if the float stands out among the branches located horizontally. It is better to fix it in the same way as the branches lie.
For fishing, it is recommended to use several options for floats:
- An oblong foam float, surrounded by several pellets below. The upper part of the snap has a bright color shade, the bottom is protective. Due to the fact that the fish looks at the food from below from a reservoir, and all objects appear to her in blue, it is advisable to choose floats with a bluish, gray or white tint from the bottom.
- Universal with antenna. It is better if these are floats that require passing the line through the cambric on the antenna. They surround it so that the antennas did not stand, but were on the surface of the water.
On technoplankton
Over the past few years, many fishermen have managed to master the fishing of silver carp using a special compressed bait - technoplankton. In water, its gradual decay occurs, because of which a cloud of turbidity is created around it, similar to the natural food preferred by silver carp - phytoplankton. Externally, the bait is a barrel with a hole along the entire length - set on a thin rod. In specialized stores, they can offer a more economical option - crumbly technoplankton, but it will have to be pressed independently.
The use of technoplankton provides long casting and fishing in a plumb line. The bait is installed on a special snap called a silver carp stick. The float holds it in a given horizon after casting. Depth varies from 30 centimeters to 1 meter. This is the best fishing area.
Technoplankton has neutral buoyancy. During the decay and spread of the turbidity attractive for fish, next to which hooks are placed, one of the fish will suck sooner or later.
Silver carp wand is a floating rig that needs to be fixed in one place, otherwise the consumption of technoplankton will be useless.
Some fishermen use a sliding sinker above the float, but this arrangement negatively affects the casting distance. Others combine a sliding float bounded by a stopper and a dead load, positioning it at the end of the main fishing line. After casting, the sinker is at the bottom, and the bite indicator rests on the stopper, due to which the equipment rises. The use of this option requires accurate knowledge of the depth at the point of catch for the correct setting of the stopper.
Instead of sticks and technoplankton, they often use a spring feeder filled with catchy mixtures in a snap. At the same time, it is taken into account that the mass of equipment will increase significantly in volume, because home bait is much heavier than technoplankton. It may be necessary to take a rod with a higher dough and use a float with a higher carrying capacity.
On the bottom tackle
The design of the equipment for the donkey is quite simple. On a large spring feeder, 2-3 hooks are installed on leashes with a length of at least 20 centimeters. Leashes are recommended to be made of a wattled cord with a diameter up to 0.12 mm. Foam balls cling to the hooks - the fish sucks them together with the rising particles of food and is itself detected.
Donkey fishing has several significant drawbacks. First of all, you need to make bait yourself. The error in the proportions ends with the fact that the bait will not "dust". In such a situation, experienced fishermen get out of position by adding an Alka-Seltzer tablet to each filled feeder - the drug, when reacting with water, begins to boil and destroy the mixture from the inside.
Another negative point is the fishing horizon. Large specimens rarely sink to the bottom, they prefer the food that accumulates in the upper layers. But despite this, the bottom tackle is simple and affordable, due to which it is so popular.
Bait
Many do not believe that silver carp is a fish that can peck on a completely naked hook without bait. But this is actually real. It does not require the use of anything, even some vegetables on hooks. It is not a question of whether there is bait, but of which hook is used and what is near it. That is, if an empty hook falls in the area of plankton, the silver carp can swallow it in troubled water without noticing.
Greater success is guaranteed with more hooks, because during active feeding, the fish will surely stumble on one of them.
If you are not sure that this method will give a result, it is permissible to use porridge for fishing. But in this case, you can not do without special ingredients. As a rule, in such cases, purchased Geysers are used, which have proven themselves when catching silver carp. Sometimes bait is replaced with cookies "Jubilee", mixing it with porridge, oilcake, halva, bread, etc.
Silver carp is a unique fish, which simply amazes with its large size, due to which it attracts not only fishermen who want to get such a trophy, but also entrepreneurs who decided to get a business from the sale of marketable fish. To raise and grow fish in a summer cottage is real, if all the necessary requirements are observed.
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