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Bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) Photo: Vivek.N.Rathod · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 · source ↗

Bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis)

Bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis, also placed in genus Hypophthalmichthys) is an exotic surface-and-column zooplankton filter-feeder carp originally from China. It was introduced into Indian aquaculture experimentally in the 1960s but has been adopted on a limited scale, largely because its zooplankton niche overlaps with catla, the preferred indigenous large carp.

Key characteristics

  • Family: Cyprinidae
  • Body: very large head (one-third of body length), upturned mouth, body grey with irregular dark blotches; resembles silver carp but with coarser gill rakers and a larger head
  • Feeding niche: surface and column zooplankton filter-feeder (coarser filter than silver carp; takes larger plankton 17-3000 micron)
  • Growth: rapid; reaches 1-1.5 kg in 10-12 months, can grow larger than silver carp in same time
  • Maximum size: about 1.5 m and 40 kg

Cultivation

Bighead carp is stocked in some six-species composite ponds in north-east India and West Bengal at 5-10% in place of, or alongside, silver carp (Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix). It is induced-spawned in hatcheries with carp pituitary or synthetic GnRH analogues. Pond preparation follows standard practice (Fish Pond Construction). The species responds to organic manuring and supplementary feed of rice bran and oilcake.

Conflict with catla

Because bighead carp shares the same large-zooplankton niche as catla (Catla Catla Indian Major Carp), ICAR-CIFA's mainstream six-species package uses silver carp (phytoplankton) and not bighead carp for the surface filter-feeder slot. Bighead carp is recommended only when catla is excluded from the stocking, or where local market accepts bighead. Hybridisation between bighead and silver carp must be prevented in hatcheries by separate brood-stock holding.

Pests and diseases

Susceptible to argulosis (Carp Disease Argulus Anchor Worm), Aeromonas dropsy (Carp Disease Dropsy Aeromonas), gill rot and ichthyophthiriasis. Disease management is standard carp pond hygiene with lime and water exchange.

Adoption and use

Bighead carp culture in India is concentrated in the north-east, parts of West Bengal and Assam, and small pockets of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Production volume is modest compared with silver carp. Globally bighead carp is one of the top freshwater aquaculture species by tonnage, with major production in China and Bangladesh. Pond development is eligible under PMMSY.

Limitations

Bighead carp competes with catla and so is not stocked with catla in mainstream Indian polyculture. Like silver carp it has bony flesh and lower per-kg price than IMC. Release into open waters is discouraged because of invasive risk.

See also: Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix, Composite Fish Culture Six Species, Catla Catla Indian Major Carp, Carp Polyculture Pond, Grass Carp.

Sources

  1. Hypophthalmichthys nobilis. FAO Cultured Aquatic Species fact sheet.
  2. Bighead carp in Indian aquaculture. ICAR-CIFA Bhubaneswar.
  3. Carp culture status. National Fisheries Development Board.