Crucian Carp

Care

Crucian Carp vary in colour from gold to brown and have a covering of even small scales. The body shape, when viewed from the side, can become quite tall as the fish mature. In the wild, Crucian Carp dwell at the bottom of heavily overgrown still or slow-moving waters with a muddy substrate. Rarely are they found in faster-moving rivers. As such, they are able to cope with a wide range of conditions, many of which would be totally unsuitable for less hardy species e.g. low oxygen content, high levels of organic pollutants etc. Of course, this is not an excuse to let things slip in the ornamental pond environment, but it does give an indication of how adaptable these remarkable creatures are. Crucian Carp are quite sedentary and feed from the bottom on organic detritus, filamentous algae, small crustaceans, insect larvae, plankton and plant debris. On sunny days, however, it is not uncommon to see them venture up to the surface picking at various food sources. In the winter, during particularly cold spells, they burrow themselves into the muddy substrate. These fish can sometimes be mistaken for brown goldfish, but there are different characteristics. The Crucian Carp possesses a more concave dorsal fin (compared to the convex dorsal fin of the goldfish) and the leading ray of the dorsal fin of the Crucian Carp has around 30 small barbs, compared to 10-15 in the goldfish. This species may be kept alongside many other pond species, although they are capable of interbreeding with many, such as Common Carp and Mirror Carp. A large pond is necessary, as although Crucian Carp are slow-growing, they can attain quite a large size/height. Wild Crucian Carp are listed as being 'Lower Risk - Least Concern' on the IUCN redlist for endangered species. These fish, however, are bred on a large scale for the ornamental fish hobby.

Feeding

Pond flakes, pond pellets, pond sticks, live/frozen foods etc.

Breeding

Crucian Carp typically spawn following cool rain showers in the months between May and August, when the temperature of the water may have gradually risen. The adhesive eggs (which can number in the hundred thousands) are scattered over dense thickets of aquatic vegetation. Once free-swimming, the fry begin feeding on the natural supply of zooplankton. These fish breed quite prolifically in small bodies of water such as farmland ponds and oxbow lakes. This is because the harsh conditions do not always suit other species which may have otherwise predated on the fry or competed with them for food.