( Aischgrund Carp, Common carp)

Cyprinus cirrosus Schaeffer, 1760
Cyprinus viri-violaceus Lacepède, 1803
Cyprinus rubrofuscus
Cyprinus nigroauratus.
Cyprinus vittatus Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1842
Cyprinus conirostris Schelegel, 1842,
Cyprinus haematopterus.
Cyprinus acuminatus Richardson, 1846
Cyprinus sculponeatus
Cyprinus flamm
Cyprinus atrovirens.
Cyprinus melanotus Schelegel, 1846
Carpio vulgaris Rapp, 1854
Cyprinus chinensis Basilewsky, 1855
Carpio flavipinna Bleeker, 1863
Cyprinus tossicole Elera, 1895

Cyprinidae

ປາແຝກ / Goldfish
ປາຫົວແງນນ້ອຍ/ ປາຫົວແງນນ້ອຍ
ປາກິນຫຍ້າ / Grass Carp

The fish has an elongated, slightly flattened body and thick lips. It features two pairs of barbels (whiskers) at the mouth’s angle, with the ones on the upper lip being shorter. Its dorsal fin (on the back) has a long base with 17 to 22 branched rays and a strong, toothlike spine at the front. The outline of this fin curves inward at the front. The anal fin (underneath) has 6 to 7 soft rays, and the third spines on both the dorsal and anal fins have sharp, tiny bumps at the back. The fish’s side is lined with 32 to 38 scales. It has 10 flat-topped teeth in its throat. The color varies wild cards are typically brownish or greenish on their back and upper sides, changing to golden yellow on the underside. The fins are dusky with a reddish tint underneath [4]

Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) spawn along shorelines or in backwaters, where their larvae need very warm water and shallow, submerged vegetation to survive. Males usually begin reproducing at 3 to 5 years old, while females start at 4 to 6 years. These fish can live up to 50 years and typically spawn annually. The timing of spawning is influenced by latitude and altitude, occurring in May-June when water temperatures exceed 18°C. Adult carp often mi-grate long distances to suitable backwaters or flooded meadows for spawning. Females release sticky eggs in dense vegetation, where they are fertilized by males. The larvae and juveniles then live in warm, shallow, flooded areas, feeding mainly on tiny zooplankton like rotifers. Successful reproduction depends on rising water levels, high temperatures, and prolonged flooding of vegetation during May and June. In Laos, their breeding season aligns with the rainy season from May to October, driven by increased water temperature and flow, prompting carp to migrate upstream to find appropriate spawning grounds. Juveniles and adults consume a variety of ground organisms and plant material and are most active at dusk and dawn. They are also very tolerant of low oxygen levels [5].

Hatching eggs: Common carp eggs are adhesive and typically attach to objects in their environment. These eggs are often hatched in concrete tubs or ponds, with water sprayed over them to prevent drying out. However, hatching can also take place in specially designed pointed cones, which utilize a water circulation system to remove the sticky substances from the eggs. To ensure successful hatching, the water temperature must be maintained between 18°C and 30°C. [9]

Native to Afghanistan, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Islamic Republic of, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Pakistan, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

North Laos Highlands
Northern Mekong Corridor
Vientiane Plain
Lower Annamites
Southern Mekong Corridor

Other farmland
Rivers and streams
Lakes and ponds
Marshes and peatlands

Introduced

Not invasive

Vulnerable

List III: General species

Food
Use not advised

This species is either threatened or vulnerable. Therefore, the PKL team recommends abstaining from collecting it in the wild. The same applies to purchasing it on markets or using any of its parts, except if the species has been domesticated and the purchased specimen stems from a cultivation.

Both

May
June
July
August
September
October

Overview:
Temperature: The ideal temperature for growth and reproduction is between 20- 30 °C. Nevertheless, the fish can adapt easily to changes in the environment.[9]

Variety selection: There are many species of Cyprinus carpio that are popularly raised, such as: Cyprinus carpio var. carpio, Cyprinus carpio var. latus Fitzinger, 1832, Cyprinus carpio var. monstrosus Walecki, 1863, Cyprinus carpio var. muergo Dybowski, 1869, Cyprinus carpio var. multitaeniata Pellegrin & Chevey, 1936, Cyprinus carpio var. triangularis Wu, 1939. [9]
Selection of parent fish: Breeding fish must be 1-2 years old and weight must be greater than or equal to 0.4 kg. [9]

Housing and shelter:
For fish raised for sale, 2-3 fish per square meter is ideal, with a growth period of 6-8 months. In cages, 150-200 fish per square meter is suitable, with a growth period of 4-6 months. When integrated into rice fields, 0.8-1 fish per square meter is ideal, with a growth period of 3-4 months. [9]

Feeding and nutrition:
Raise fish larvae from 2-3 days until they are 30-40 days old: Feeding for Week 1: 80% / total fish weight, Week 2: 50% / total fish weight, Week 3: 30% / total fish weight and Week 4: 15% / total fish weight. [9]
Food of Common carp: At a Larval stage (10mm) it feeds on small animals found at the bottom of the water. At 10-20mm, it feeds on both animal and plant mites. At 20-100mm, it keeps a similar diet, only now also feeds on insect larvae. At a 10cm thickness, it feeds on aquatic animals. Adults eat shrimp, crabs, snails, beetles, ladybugs, termites, ants, water worms, and more. [9]
Feeding method: Food can be mixed with water and then spread evenly throughout the pond. [9]

Breeding programme:
There are 3 methods of breeding fish:
Natural breeding: After mating naturally, the male and female fish should be removed from the pond. Once the parents are separated, raise the fry (young fish) in the pond. [9]
Mixed breeding: Male and female fish raised in ponds or tubs are kept in a controlled environment to encourage breeding. The process involves selecting female fish that are ready to mate and stimulating them by either changing the water or using artificial rain. Additionally, adjusting the water temperature in the breeding area or administering hormone injections can help trigger reproduction. [9]
Artificial breeding: The breeding process involves a dry mating technique. After separating the parent fish, they are placed in a breeding tank for about 4-6 hours. Hormones are then injected to stimulate the eggs and sperm. The ideal temperature for breeding ranges from 20°C to 30°C, with a minimum of 18°C. [9]

Habitat preservation:
River regulation, which alters natural flood patterns essential for spawning, and hybridization with introduced stocks (crossbreeding) pose major threats. Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases. Shipping lanes and Dams & water management/use.

Use not advised species from natural

Important source of proteins

N/A

Nutrient	/100g	Remark
Proteins	N/A	15.9–18.5: The average protein content of carp meat
Carbohydrates	N/A	N/A
Fats	N/A	1.5–6.8
Vitamins	N/A	N/A
Minerals	N/A	N/A
Fibers	N/A	N/A

Eurasian Carp as seen in nature. [1] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded on 2 January 2024 by: jakob_. Availa-ble: www.inaturalist.org/photos/344884274. [Accessed: 13 September 2024]
Captured Eurasian Carp. [2] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded on 22 February 2024 by: Christopher bentley04. Available: www.inaturalist.org/photos/35306215. [Accessed: 13 September 2024]
Eurasian Carp underwater. [3] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded on 29 September 2023 by: erncav. Available: www.inaturalist.org/photos/264514436. [Accessed: 13 September 2024]

[4] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), “Species Fact Sheets,” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, PDF, 2010. [Online]. [Accessed: 13 September 2024]
[5] J. Freyhof and M. Kottelat, “IUCU Red Lish,” IUCU Red Lish, vol. 2024, no. 2, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6181/12559362#habitat-ecology. [Accessed: 13 September 2024]
[6] Global Biodiversity Information Facility, “Gbif,” Global Biodiversity In formation Facility, vol. 2024, no. 4, April 2024. [Online]. Availa-ble: https://www.gbif.org/. [Accessed: 13 September 2024]
[7] IMAGE OF LAOS DISTRIBUTION
[8] K. Vonglokham, “Regional Fisheries Policy Network (RFPN) Member for Lao PDR,” Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, [online]. Available: http://www.seafdec.org/fisheries-country-profile-lao-pdr-2018/. [Accessed: 13 September 2024]
[9] ສູນພັດທະນາການລ້ຽງປາ. (2015). ຄູມືການລ້ຽງປາໄນ. ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ: ສູນພັດທະນາການລ້ຽງປາ, ນ້ຳຊວງ, ກົມລ້ຽງສັດ ແລະ ການປະມົງ, ກະຊວງກະຊິກຳ ແລະ ປ່າໄມ້.
[10] H. Wang, Y. Liu, and S. Zhang, “Nutritional value and sensory properties of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fillets enriched with sustainable and natural feed ingredients,” Food and Chemi-cal Toxicology, vol. 152, pp. 112197, Jun. 2021. [Online]. Availa-ble: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691521002301. [Accessed: 13 September 2024]