How does it look?

Wild carp, compared to domestic carp, has a sleeker appearance. They have golden-greyish-yellow skin and scales, while their flesh is pink. Wild carp has two pairs of barbels near the upper lip. The thick and large scales are characteristic, forming a network-like pattern. Wild carp typically weighs about half as much as domestic carp. Domestic carp can reach a length of 110 cm and weigh up to 40 kg. The largest known carp measured 125 cm in length and weighed 45 kg. The oldest recorded carp reached the age of 65.

Where does it live?

Carp are attracted to large water reservoirs with slow or even stagnant water flow and sandy bottoms. These fish prefer living in small schools, typically consisting of at least five carp.

What does it eat?

Carp is omnivorous. It can feed on various aquatic plants, but it prefers rooting around the sandy bottom of the water, searching for insects, crustaceans, and worms. Carp larvae feed on zooplankton.

Interesting and important facts

In Latvia, carp has been cultivated in ponds since the 13th century. Carp can survive in water bodies with low oxygen levels because, when necessary, it can gulp air using its mouth and expel it outside. Carp reach reproductive maturity at the age of 1-6 years, reaching a length of 10-53 cm. Although spawning typically occurs in spring, carp can spawn multiple times a year depending on water temperature. The fertility of carp in a season ranges from 4.000 to 300.000 eggs. In Latvia, carp spawn in May and June.

This fish forms hybrids with tench and silver bream. Carp are preyed upon by various birds, such as the great cormorant, common tern, great bittern, and osprey, as well as mammals like otters and minks.

Information sources: Wikipedia

Image author: Anastasija Ovsepjana