Silver carp

Silver carp

　　Silver carp are typical filter-feeding fish. In their fry stage, they mainly consume zooplankton, gradually shifting to phytoplankton as they grow beyond 1.5 cm in length. They also eat soybean milk, soybean dregs powder, bran, and rice bran, and prefer artificially formulated micro-particle feed. They thrive in nutrient-rich waters. Their intestinal tract is about 6–10 times the length of their body.

　　Silver carp mature 1–2 years earlier than grass carp. Mature individuals are also smaller, with females generally reaching maturity at over 3 kg. Females around 5 kg have a relative fecundity of about 40,000–50,000 eggs per kilogram of body weight, and an absolute fecundity of 200,000–250,000 eggs. The eggs are buoyant. The spawning period is similar to that of grass carp.

　　In natural rivers, they can grow up to 30–40 kg. Under pond farming conditions, if sufficient food is provided, one-year-old fish can reach about 0.8 kg.