How is mirror carp different from regular carp?

Origin of the species and description

Photo: Mirror carp

Mirror carp belongs to the carp family. Its main difference is that this particular variety was bred artificially. Some call the Mirror Carp a domesticated carp. But it is still different from carp. Mainly with a smaller head and an elongated upward body.

Interesting fact: Mirror carp was bred artificially.

Carp includes many different species. Only the mirror one, which is often called domestic carp, is considered domesticated. In addition, there is the common carp and others, most of which are named based on the name of the area where they are most common.

Video: Mirror carp

Initially, Mirror carp was bred by breeders with the goal of creating a species of fish that would have large mass, dimensions, nutritional value, and at the same time be unpretentious in terms of care. It is the Mirror carp that is a representative of the family that can be fed with grains and other plant crops that are easy to obtain and also have a high value for weight gain by the fish.

The main features of this type include:

• large fish sizes;
• unlike almost all other types of carp, the scales of the Mirror are silvery, very large in size, but there are few of them on the body;
• there are much fewer rays on the fins;
• lives mainly closer to the shore.
• All this is essentially the result of crossings of different subspecies of cyprinids, as well as their adaptation to the necessary living conditions.

Interesting fact: Many breeders call representatives of the species living in natural conditions simply wild individuals.

Work on crossing carp and carp continues. This makes it possible to achieve an even greater increase in the body weight of fish and their growth rate. The mirror carp itself was discovered by German scientists.

Population and species status

No matter how numerous the ranks of the carp’s enemies may be, its population has never decreased. The secret here is the extraordinary fertility of this fish. Scientists argue that it is for this reason and with a decrease in demand for mirror carp, its “occupation” of reservoirs could become threatening.

Nature has decreed that restraining factors are good for the fish itself. Thanks to its active growth, amazing unpretentiousness in any body of water and high taste and nutritional standards, there is a growing number of entrepreneurs and ordinary people in the world who want not only to grow mirror carp, but also want to see it more often on their table.

Good reasons for a person's liking for carp include its appearance and physical characteristics. This fish is a difficult opponent for fishing and at the same time a decoration for any table. It is recommended by nutritionists, and the art of catching it is compared to science.

Have you seen the eyes of a carp fisher who lifted even a medium-sized “pig” out of the water? Perhaps you were lucky when hunting this fish? Tell us in the comments your story (literally in a few lines) about your meeting with a fish that deservedly bears the name “royal carp.”

Appearance and features

Photo: What does a mirror carp look like?

A distinctive feature of this type of carp is its large size. Mirror carp can reach 1 m in length and weigh up to 15 kg. Mirror carp is a real aesthetic pleasure for the fisherman who catches it, because it is really difficult to take your eyes off the shimmer of its scales. The scales are usually pearlescent with a green, golden or brown tint.

Large scales are located in the middle of the body closer to the tail. But near the pectoral and dorsal fins there are no scales at all. It is interesting that the appearance of an adult mirror carp directly depends on the conditions in which it lives (quality of life, depth, sufficient oxygen). Fish can adapt to different living conditions, changing their appearance to suit them.

Interesting fact: Such large scales are a consequence of the industrial importance of the species, since such fish are simply easier to clean.

Since the Mirror carp was originally bred as an industrially valuable species, the features of its appearance also have a characteristic practical significance:

• minimum scales throughout the body;
• minimal number of rays, reduced fins;
• less developed head;
• prone to obesity, so they often look round and have a more rounded body.

Interesting fact: Naked carp is considered an even rarer variety - absolutely without scales of a diseased shade. It practically does not live in natural conditions.

Many argue that in natural conditions, mirror carp can easily live up to 50 years and, almost constantly increasing, reach impressive sizes by this time.

Difference from ordinary carp

The ancestor of the carp is the river carp, which translated from Turkic means “silt fish.” This large wild fish is heavily covered in silty mucus. It reduces the friction force of water, improves thermoregulation of fish and protects it from parasites and infections. Fish of the carp family have a characteristic appearance:

• rounded, massive body;
• large, proportional head with bulging eyes;
• nostrils are double, located above;
• the mouth is located at the bottom of the head, large, extended into a tube;
• on the upper lip there are two pairs of sensitive antennae;
• the sides are yellow-brown or golden, the belly is wide and light;
• the scales are large, tightly adjacent to the skin, smooth, and have a dark edge;
• on the darker back there is a notched long fin (3-4 hard rays and 17-22 soft ones).

In the process of selection, original breeds of carp and their hybrids of various colors and with different arrangements of scales appeared. All this diversity can be seen in photos on the Internet. It is difficult to confuse the mirror carp with any other species. The species is a breeding species, its external characteristics are of industrial importance. The main thing that distinguishes it from ordinary carp is the special arrangement of its scales. Not the entire body of the fish is covered with scales, but only part of it. It is usually located along the center line of the body and closer to the tail. The side parts remain almost bare. You can see what it looks like in the photo of the view. The scales themselves are very large, shiny, and have a beautiful silver or golden color. Outwardly, they resemble small mirrors, which is why the species got its name.

Other differences include:

• reduced fins, fewer rays;
• tall body with a slight hump behind the head;
• accelerated growth and rapid weight gain.

Where do mirror carp live?

Photo: Mirror carp in the river

Since the mirror carp was bred in artificial conditions, it also mainly lives in private reservoirs. But at the same time, significant efforts have been made to populate natural reservoirs with representatives of this population. To achieve this, numerous efforts have been made to select the most comfortable conditions for the Mirror carp to live.

Basically, all cyprinids live in Europe and Asia. In Russia, they are most common in the Far East, but within the southern latitudes. The basins of the Black, Azov, Baltic and Caspian seas are their main distribution area. It should be borne in mind that cyprinids live exclusively in fresh water bodies.

Mirror carp does not like fast currents. That is why he finds artificial reservoirs with standing water simply ideal for life. Alternatively, in natural conditions it can live in lakes or rivers where the current is very weak. Carps also love clay bottoms. This choice is not accidental. In winter, carp hibernate, choosing the bottom for this and becoming covered with a thick layer of mucus. Carp also hunt closer to the bottom of the reservoir. Their special love for the comfortable conditions of staying at the bottom is connected with this.

Mirror carp are forced to live in shallow water. This is due to the fact that fish simply need oxygen in large quantities. There is no proper concentration in the middle and lower layers of the reservoir. At the same time, they are actively looking for shelter, so reservoirs with the purest water and a flat bottom are not an option for them. Mirror carp will not refuse various snags, holes, ledges and other places where, if necessary, you can safely hide.

Now you know where mirror carp are found. Let's see what this fish eats.

Description of varieties

As mentioned above, carp are divided into several types depending on their scaly cover.

Scaly carp

The common or scaly species are considered the closest relatives of the carp. If we compare them with other members of the family, they are famous for their rapid growth and weight gain, their ability to adapt to any conditions, and also to live in shallow ponds where there is stagnant water. In addition, carp are often caught in deep cuts and rivers. As for the scales, they are completely light, evenly covering the entire body. If you look at images of fish, this feature will be especially strongly emphasized.

What do mirror carp eat?

Photo: Mirror carp fish

Legends can be made about the gluttony of representatives of the carp family. Mirror carp is no exception. He eats almost all the time he is awake. At the same time, in order to find food for itself (if we are talking about natural habitat conditions), it can move for quite a long time and quickly.

Although carp are often classified as bottom fish because they prefer to live and hunt closer to the bottom, in fact they can readily search for food in all layers of water. Although carps prefer mainly animal food, they are not averse to eating duckweed for lack of anything better. At the surface of the water they can collect fallen insects (dragonflies, butterflies, midges). But closer to the bottom, the Mirror carp begins to look for mollusks and crustaceans.

In the water column, he perfectly finds fry and eggs of other fish, which he can also feast on. Among plant foods, young reeds find the most attractive. In addition, carp can constantly filter water by drawing it in through their gills. This allows it to receive the smallest particles of food dissolved in the water column. Thus, the carp is never left without nutrients.

Cyprinids usually recognize suitable food for themselves using sight and smell. It is the capture of odors that allows them to smell prey even at a great distance.

Interesting fact: There is a completely logical explanation for such a significant gluttony of cyprinids - they do not have a stomach, so there is nowhere for food to linger. That is, few nutrients have time to be absorbed from the food consumed.

In the winter season, as well as during the spawning period, carp practically lose interest in food. By the way, fishermen need to take this into account, because then any bait will be powerless. After spawning, cyprinids begin to actively gain weight again and replenish losses. But in the summer, they prefer plant foods, even occasionally not disdaining fruits and berries. In the autumn, in order to accumulate enough protein before wintering, carp again switch to an animal diet.

Interesting fact: Under artificial conditions, it feeds on cereals without any problems.

Oven recipes

The most popular dish is mirror carp baked in the oven. You can prepare it in several ways, here are some of them:

1. A small fish needs to be cleaned and gutted, rubbed with a mixture of ground black pepper and salt. Then make several small shallow cuts on the sides of the carcass and insert lemon slices into them. After this, pour plenty of lemon juice over the fish and put it in the refrigerator for an hour and a half.

While the carp is marinating in the refrigerator, you need to prepare the filling: finely chop the cabbage (for cooking you can use either sauerkraut or fresh), add salt and pepper, then fry in a frying pan without a lid with olive oil. Separately, cut the onion into half rings, mix mayonnaise and sour cream (50 grams each).

After this, you can start stuffing and cooking the mirror carp in the oven. According to the recipe, you need to spread the onions on foil and put the fish stuffed with fried cabbage on top. Then wrap and place in an oven preheated to 220 degrees for 15 minutes. After the specified time has elapsed, unfold the foil, coat the fish with the previously prepared sauce, and after 20 minutes add the sauce again. After re-coating with mayonnaise and sour cream, the carp should simmer in the oven for another 15 minutes until completely cooked. The finished dish is served with vegetables and lemon. Bon appetit!

2. Stuffed carp. Ingredients: fish fillet, onion, milk, bun, salt, pepper. First you need to grind the carp through a meat grinder, as well as pre-chopped and fried onions in vegetable oil. Add a bun soaked in a small amount of milk to the resulting minced meat, mix thoroughly, add spices to taste. To obtain the desired dense consistency, beat the fish mixture with your hands for 15 minutes, then form small sausages and wrap each one in foil. Bake in the oven at 160 degrees for 30-40 minutes. After the time has passed, let the dish cool, separate the sausages from the foil and cut into pieces. The finished fish dish can be decorated with herbs and served with boiled potatoes. A prepared salad of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers would also be an excellent addition. Bon appetit!

Features of character and lifestyle

Photo: Mirror carp in a pond

Carps are fish that prefer large groups. They rarely live alone. Only very large adult individuals can afford this. However, they still prefer not to stay too far from their relatives. In winter, cyprinids try to unite in the largest schools possible - this way it is easier for them to wait out the frosts. To do this, they choose deep holes and there, half asleep, they wait for spring. If such a hole could not be found, then the cyprinids settle under the snags.

Mirror carp go to winter when the water temperature begins to drop sharply. Then the carp lies on the bottom, slows down its breathing and gradually refuses food. In this way he manages to survive the severe frosts. In order not to freeze, carp are covered with a thick layer of mucus mixed with fat. But in the spring, when the water warms up and the ice finally melts, the carp will wake up.

Young individuals prefer reed thickets closer to the shore, but mature relatives may well live closer to the bottom. In summer, they can travel deeper distances in search of food. Cyprinids are sedentary fish. They try to almost never leave their favorite habitats. Even if they have to move, they try to do it at minimum distances. If you need to swim somewhere, then carp move in small schools and swim in a line.

They choose dark places to live; they avoid places that are too bright and easily visible. Carp can often jump out of the water - this is a sign that they are going to get food for themselves. But if this happens too often and the carp jump high, then this indicates an imminent change in the weather for the worse.

Interesting fact: Carp has excellent vision, distinguishes colors and can view the world around them at 360 degrees.

Habits and food supply

Mirror carp are considered a schooling fish. Up to a certain age and size, they prefer to live in groups of 5-10 individuals. However, large specimens over 5 kg often try to live in solitude. They gain weight quickly. Already a one-year-old carp weighs about 1 kg. After three years, the fry of this fish reaches a weight of 3 kg and a body length of 50-60 cm.

Mirror carp spend the cold season in a sleeping or half-asleep state at depth. His awakening begins in March-April. Spawning occurs in May-June, when the water temperature reaches 15-18 °C. By the way, this fish reaches sexual maturity only at 3-5 years of life.

Fishing for mirror carp begins in May. At this time, in almost all reservoirs the water warms up to 10 °C. The last fishing season is in October-November.

Mainly mirror carp feed on bottom vegetation, young shoots of reeds, eggs of frogs and fish, insects, mollusks and other organisms. If the reservoir is used for breeding fish and organizing fishing, then the food base is compound feed, cereals, grain waste, cake, etc. However, despite the large list of what carp absorb as food, it can be extremely difficult to choose what to fish with.

It is almost impossible to guess what baits mirror carp will like today. His diet may differ significantly from yesterday's taste preferences. Therefore, experienced carp fishermen use a wide variety of baits (including quite exotic ones - cucumber, cheese, berries, etc.):

• worm;
• maggot;
• bloodworm;
• corn;
• pellets;
• boilies;
• dough;
• potato;
• peas and more etc.

Social structure and reproduction

Photo: Large mirror carp

To some extent, mirror carp can be called a schooling fish, but only partially. This is due to the fact that mirror carp live in schools only for a certain time. When they turn 5-6 years old and become fully sexually mature, they disperse throughout the reservoir and then continue to live independently, coming together in groups only during the spawning period.

Mirror carp can begin to spawn only if the water in the reservoir has warmed up sufficiently. This usually requires a temperature of at least 16 degrees. Spawning occurs in the spring. It is precisely because of spawning that representatives of this species spend March and April very actively, frolicking in the water in every possible way.

The eggs ripen 4 days after they are laid. Mature individuals can spawn. They reach this age at about 4-5 years. To spawn, a sexually mature female of 3-5 years old needs to look for several males at once, and then go with them to shallow water (depth no more than half a meter). The bottom in this place should be overgrown with soft algae.

Then, over the course of 2-3 days, the female lays eggs in small portions. On average, one female can lay out from 100 thousand to 1 million eggs. When the larvae emerge from the eggs after 5 days, they will continue to develop in a static position for about a week. At this time, their only source of nutrients is the yolk sac. Further, when the fry begins to swim independently, it will begin to feed on small crustaceans on its own.

It should be noted that all representatives of the carp family are not so highly organized, therefore, nature does not provide any care for their offspring. After the female has laid her eggs, she and her partners move away without guarding the area. In artificial conditions they are also isolated from their offspring.

Origin and habitat

In fact, mirror carp (also called royal carp, German carp) is an artificially bred fish breed. Its homeland is Germany. It was there that the first specimens of mirror carp appeared. When exactly did this happen? If you believe some sources, then already in the middle of the 19th century, German carps with a minimum amount of scales were imported to England. Most likely, this was already a mirror subspecies.

Then this fish quickly spread throughout the waters of all Europe. At the beginning of the last century, it was actively bred and caught not only in Germany, but also in Belarus, Ukraine, etc. However, the Second World War had a detrimental effect on many fisheries. As a result, the number of mirror carp has sharply decreased. The only good thing is that today its habitat is quite wide.

This fish is actively bred for sale and for recreational and sport fishing.

The predominantly mirror subspecies of carp lives in the waters of Russia (including Siberia and the south of the country), Central Asia and Europe. However, it is most often attracted to warm, standing water saturated with oxygen.

Natural enemies of mirror carp

Photo: What does a mirror carp look like?

If we talk about representatives of the population living in artificial conditions, then their percentage of enemies is much lower. Different fish are not placed together, but carp never show hostility among themselves, so they cannot cause any harm. In natural conditions, everything is much more complicated. Although carp, like many other fish, the main threat is from humans. Especially when it comes to such an industrially valuable species.

In addition, there are plenty of enemies among representatives of the natural environment. This is why carp tries to be careful, despite its impressive dimensions. Frogs always pose the greatest danger - they love to eat eggs and even fry. Thus, in one day, 1 frog is capable of destroying almost the entire clutch of one female. Crustaceans and other fish also do not refuse such a delicacy.

If the eggs are brought too close to the shore, then birds, animals can eat them there, or they simply dry out. Large pike, catfish and even other larger carp may well eat small adults. Seagulls and other birds of this kind pose a particular danger to young cyprinids - they very often hunt them and can destroy them in large quantities. It is extremely difficult for carp to fight these enemies, which is why they often prefer to choose more secluded habitats.

What type of mirror carp is it?

A very long time ago, man learned to domesticate not only mammals, but also fish in order to use them for food. An example of this is the mirror carp. This is one of many breeds of domesticated carp.

From artificial reservoirs, individual individuals can sometimes end up in rivers and lakes of natural origin, where they adapt well to wild conditions. Therefore, mirror carp living in natural reservoirs are considered wild descendants of fish from fish farms.

Mirror carp has an original appearance that attracts many fishermen. The meat of this fish is very tasty and nutritious.

Although carp is a bony fish, its meat compensates for this disadvantage. It has a delicate structure and spicy taste. Carp meat contains a lot of polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, vitamins and microelements. And the low calorie content of carp dishes (110-115 kcal per 100 grams) makes it possible to use them in a gentle and dietary menu. Specimens caught in the wild are especially useful. There are many recipes for carp dishes. You can find them on our website.

Hungarian carp photo

Carp is a domesticated carp, and due to this, it is practically never found in rivers. The main habitats of this fish are stakes, ponds and lakes, where it was released as a fry. In appearance, carp is similar to crucian carp, only its body is thicker and lower. It has considerable power of caution, and it is not at all easy to catch it.

Weight can reach 25 kg (in fact - more - watch the video) The longest length of an adult fish is 1 m

Carp is a large species of fish that is unpretentious. In the field of fishermen, the species is of significant commercial importance and is highly valued among lovers of fish dishes.

Compared to carp, carp are prolific and adapt well to their environment. River specimens have an oblong body, while carp living in lakes and ponds are distinguished by their large mass and thick body.

For the first time, Chinese fishermen began to breed carp for industrial catching, who raised this fish for the table of the emperor and nobles. Later, carp found its way onto the tables of European and British nobles and quickly became a signature dish. The high fertility of the fish allows carp to be bred everywhere - the female is capable of laying up to 1 million eggs, which perfectly adapt to the environment.

It is noteworthy that carps grow very quickly - in a few months, the eggs can grow to an individual weighing 400-500 grams. Favorable living conditions affect the fertility of males, who are already able to fertilize females at the age of two. The maximum lifespan of fish is about 30 years. At the same time, an individual is capable of reaching a mass of more than 45 kg, which causes increased interest among fishermen who prefer to catch trophy fish.

Often, this type of fish is bred in small ponds - it adapts perfectly to any living conditions and eats almost anything.

Vital activity of fish

Young animals prefer to gather in schools, while older individuals, who have managed to grow up and gain several kilograms in weight, are more prone to a solitary lifestyle. Despite the solitude, closer to the cold, carp gather in schools (regardless of size) to collectively find shelter for wintering. In winter, fish, like catfish, look for depressions at the bottom and grottoes in order to calmly wait out the frosts, burying themselves in mud and silt. Carps leave hibernation towards the end of March - early April.

The diet of carp is varied and consists of the following components : – Reed stems; – Caviar of other fish and frogs; – Worms; – Fry and small crayfish; – Various insects.

Carps are essentially cannibals - adults can easily eat their own fry.

Species diversity

Fishermen have been breeding carp for more than 1000 years and as a result were able to develop many new breeds and subspecies of fish. For decorative purposes only, specialists managed to breed more than 80 varieties. Despite such an abundance of breeds, experts identify several main subspecies of the carp family:

– The common carp is the very first species of carp that ancient fishermen were able to cultivate. As a result of crossings and genetic mutations, it was from this species of carp that all the others came. This species is practically indistinguishable from carp by external features. For example, the head of an ordinary carp is much smaller than that of a carp, it has a higher back, and the dorsal fin has more branches;

– Scaly carp is one of the fastest growing species, which is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and vitality. It tolerates cold and warm water well. The habitat of such carp is deep-sea quarries, shallow ponds of shallow depth with stagnant water and flowing rivers. This type of carp is found almost throughout the entire territory of Russia, starting from Eastern Siberia and ending with the southern regions;

Varieties of carp

There are natural subspecies of common carp, and several cultural forms of fish have been selectively bred. These include, for example,

• mirror, or king carp - a fish with a very small number of scales,
• leathery carp with a completely scaleless body,
• Koi carp are fish with unusually bright, golden or scarlet, solid or patterned coloring.

Classification of carp

There is a wide variety of species and breeds of cyprinids. The following species exist only in Russia and the former USSR:

1. Common carp (golden, scaly) is one of the most common types of cultivated carp. Scaly carp is considered to be the hardiest and most resistant to living conditions. In addition, its characteristic feature is its rapid growth and ability to reproduce. The fish is ready to reproduce at the age of three, life expectancy is 30 years and above.
2. Silver carp. The original habitat was Lake Balkhash, after which the fish was brought to the USA and Canada, where it actively began to displace local fish. As a result, authorities have taken measures to prevent the species from entering the Great Lakes.
3. Humpback carp. The back of this species has the shape of an arc: a sharp rise begins from the head, goes in a straight line to the dorsal fin and descends.
4. The mirror carp represents the first form of this species artificially bred by humans. It differs from the usual one in that it has chaotically arranged scales with unprotected areas of the body. Due to the lack of scales representing the frame, large individuals have a wider belly. Compared to ordinary mirror carp, it is less common, but due to its genetic characteristics it is considered the largest in the world.
5. Naked carp have a distinctive feature - the complete absence of scales. When breeding this species, special attention should be paid to the amount of oxygen in the reservoir. Compared to the parent form, the size, weight, and growth rate of naked carp are lower.
6. Silver carp. It differs from the usual one in its smaller size and light scales. This species was taken as the basis for breeding aquarium fish. The original habitat was the Far East. Silver crucian carp is very similar to it.

The last 2 species are characterized by particularly high fertility and displacement of other fish species.

Official carp breeds

Each region has its own species, which has adapted to local conditions. If we look at the carp breeds that have been officially recognized, they have the following names:

1. Ukrainian framed. Refers to fattening breeds that tolerate winter well in water bodies.
2. Altai mirror carp. At the age of three, individuals reach sexual maturity, unlike other breeds (4-5 years).
3. Krasnodar and Stavropol carp are domesticated carp, habitat is the south of Russia.
4. Romanian carp. It was obtained by scientists as a result of crossing three breeds: Hungarian, Ukrainian and Romanian.
5. Sarboyan carp. The breed was bred at the end of the last century for Siberia, and its distinctive feature is high fertility, good winter hardiness and rapid growth.
6. Ropshinsky and Parsky. The weight of females reaches 9 kg. The main regions of Russia's habitat are the central part and the north.

Scientists are constantly working and trying to create new breeds that will have better qualities, because the meat of these fish is not only tasty, but also dietary. It contains many useful vitamins and minerals. One of the main disadvantages is the large number of small bones, but this does not reduce the popularity of the fish.