Skip to content

Rohu (Labeo rohita) Indian major carp Photo: Biswarup Ganguly · CC BY 3.0 · source ↗

Rohu (Labeo rohita) Indian major carp

Rohu (Labeo rohita) is the column-feeder of the three Indian Major Carps and the most widely cultured and consumed freshwater fish in India. Native to the Indo-Gangetic river system, rohu has spread throughout the subcontinent and forms the backbone of pond and reservoir polyculture.

Key characteristics

  • Family: Cyprinidae
  • Body: streamlined cylindrical, dark blue-grey above and silvery below, with reddish fins; small inferior mouth fringed by short barbels
  • Feeding niche: column-feeder. Omnivorous bottom-column, takes plankton, decaying vegetation, periphyton and supplementary feed
  • Growth: reaches 700 g-1 kg in 10-12 months under recommended management; up to 2 kg in extended grow-out
  • Maximum size: 2 m and 45 kg in natural waters

Cultivation

Rohu is stocked at the highest proportion in three-species composite culture (around 50-60% catla 30%, mrigal 10-20%). In six-species systems the share is 20-25% along with catla, mrigal, silver carp, grass carp and common carp (Composite Fish Culture Six Species). Stocking density is 5,000-10,000 fingerlings/ha. Rohu does not breed naturally in still ponds. Hatchery seed is produced via induced spawning using carp pituitary extract or synthetic GnRH analogues (Ovaprim, Ovatide). ICAR-CIFA Bhubaneswar runs the rohu breeding programme and released the improved Jayanti rohu strain (Jayanti Rohu Cifa Selectively Bred). Standard supplementary feed is rice bran and oilcake (1:1) at 2-3% body weight; modern intensive farms use floating pellet feed at 28-32% crude protein.

Pests and diseases

Rohu is susceptible to argulosis (Carp Disease Argulus Anchor Worm), Aeromonas dropsy and tail rot (Carp Disease Dropsy Aeromonas), epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS), bacterial gill rot and ichthyophthiriasis. Periodic netting checks, lime treatment at 200-500 kg/ha, and water exchange are the main control measures. Severe argulus outbreaks are treated with bath dips of dipterex / cypermethrin under veterinary supervision.

Yield and adoption

Rohu is the principal cultured freshwater fish across Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Assam. Yields in three-species polyculture reach 3-5 t/ha/year. Andhra Pradesh's Kolleru-Krishna belt is the largest rohu-producing region. Pond development, hatcheries and seed production are eligible for support under PMMSY.

See also: Catla Catla Indian Major Carp, Mrigal Cirrhinus Mrigala Imc, Jayanti Rohu Cifa Selectively Bred, Amur Rohu Improved Strain, Composite Fish Culture Six Species.

Sources

  1. Labeo rohita. FAO Cultured Aquatic Species fact sheet.
  2. Freshwater Aquaculture: Indian Major Carps. ICAR-CIFA Bhubaneswar.
  3. Rohu culture and breeding. National Fisheries Development Board.