Why are wild carp (Cyprinus carpio) valuable fish?
Due to their high quality and limited availability wild carp are commercially valuable fish. Wild carp grow more slowly than the artificially bred forms depending on water temperature and the duration of the summer. At four years old, a wild carp may measure 35 cm and weigh 1kg, while at 15 years it may measure 60cm and weigh 4kg. The fish become sexually mature at four to five years old. At the end of May and in June, wild carp spawn in the watery edges of lakes and rivers at temperatures of not less than 15 Celsius. The wild carp eggs attach to aquatic plants. Young carp will hatch in five days at 15 C and at 20 C in three days. The newly hatched larvae measure about 5 mm and cling to the plants until the yolk sack has been digested. Feeding first on plankton, the young wild carp fry soon change to eating bottom prey together with water plants and seeds. Carp live in shoals. They hibernate in deep, muddy spots and do not feed during the winter. Statistics: Size: 40-80 cm, maximum 1 m
