Ch02

This is the second part of an illustrated manual on the large-scale propagation of Cyprinus carpio, the common carp. It provides details about the advanced technology which has recently been developed in Hungary for the mass production of carp fry and fingerlings in earthen ponds. Selected data are summarized in Table 1.

2. In Part 1 of this manual we have seen how artificial propagation may be used for the mass production of carp eggs and early fry (1, 2).

Part 2 explains how to use two types of hatchery earthen ponds for the successive mass production of the advanced fry (3) and fingerlings (4) of common carp.

Using these juveniles, marketable-size fish are then produced in fattening ponds (5).

3. In temperate zones the production of table fish starts in spring in the second year, with (1) the stocking of carp fingerlings in fattening ponds. (2) They are well fed until autumn, when they reach the average weight of 200-300 grams. (3) After being harvested and sorted by size, (4) they are then stocked in smaller ponds for overwintering.

The following spring, the third year starts and continues in the same way until autumn when the carp average 1-2 kg each. (3) They are harvested and sorted by size, (5) part of them are marketed (4) and the rest are overwintered.

In the spring, the marketable-size fish are sorted and marketed, some being possibly kept as young broodstock.

In tropical zones this production cycle can be shortened by at least one year, since the growth of the carp is not restricted to certain seasons.

4. Carp juveniles are reared in earthen ponds where they become part of the biological production cycle. It will be shown to you which factors are involved in this cycle and how they may affect fish production.

5. In the carp ponds, many different organisms live together and interact with each other.

You should become familiar with the most common phytoplankters, zooplankters, insects and vertebrates living in warm earthen ponds.

6. The technology for the production of 3-cm advanced carp fry is then described in detail, using well prepared and closely managed earthen ponds for one month.

7. Carp fingerlings 10-40 g in size are produced during the following rearing period, in larger ponds. The technology will be discussed in the next section of this manual.

8. In temperate climates, the water temperature in the ponds may reach below 10°C. If this is the case, the fingerlings should over winter under appropriate management, which is briefly illustrated.

9. In a final section, the efficient organization of fry and fingerling production is emphasized.

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