When it comes to invasive fish, many people may immediately think of scavengers, tilapia and Egyptian catfish, etc., because these fish lack the threat of natural enemies, resulting in the expansion of rivers, lakes and reservoirs in the southern region, as well as in ponds and ditches.
However, there is another invasive fish species, more successful than the scavenger and Egyptian beard catfish, as well as tilapia, which has been breeding in the southern waters of our country for more than 30 years, but has been mistaken for a native fish, and even mistakenly regarded it as a grass carp, which is the Merigala carp. So why mistake it for grass carp?
Whether it's grass carp or Merigala mud carp, can you tell the difference
<h1 class = "pgc-h-center-line" > exotic mud carp: Marigara carp</h1>
Commonly known as wheat carp (hereinafter referred to as wheat carp), also known as wild mud carp, it is native to Bangladesh and India, and this fish is also one of the four major farmed fish in India; it is also distributed in the surrounding Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan, Laos and Thailand.
The wheat mud carp is a freshwater fish, its temperament is very active, similar to the silver carp bighead carp, like to jump in the water. Wheat carp has a strong ability to adapt to the environment, and can survive normally in natural waters, whether it is ponds, reservoirs, or rivers with rapid water flow.
Wheat mud carp caught
In particular, the resistance to low oxygen, viruses and low temperatures is unmatched by native mud carp; especially in winter, even if the water temperature drops to 7 ° C, it will not affect the normal activity of the wheat carp, while the soil carp will die.
Wheat mud carp has a very mixed diet and a wide range of feeding ranges. Wild wheat carp in natural waters usually feeds on organic plant detritus and phytoplankton, which also feeds on small insects in the water, as well as water earthworms and some larvae.
It is understood that the wheat mud carp fry hatched that year can grow to between 600 and 700 grams in the environment of sufficient food sources; and the wheat mud carp in the wild environment can also grow to about 250 to 300 grams, and the growth rate is faster, and the maximum can grow to about 20 pounds.
< h1 class= "pgc-h-center-line" > why wheat mud carp appear in the southern waters of China</h1>
Wheat mud carp first entered our territory in 1982 when it was introduced in India and experimentally farmed, which was quickly successful. Subsequently, wheat carp was promoted as an economic fish in southern regions such as Fujian, Yunnan, Hainan, Guangdong and Guangxi.
Because China is a country with an obvious monsoon climate, the gap between the distribution of rain in the four seasons of the year is large, especially in summer, and there will often be heavy rain and heavy rain. Therefore, due to floods and other reasons, some farms have been engulfed by rainwater.
At first glance, this wheat mud carp really looks like grass carp
After the pond is overturned by rainwater, it will cause a large number of farmed wheat carp to flee to natural waters such as rivers and reservoirs. In addition, there are customs of release in various regions of our country, and even regular release activities are organized, which is the main reason why wheat mud carp enters the southern waters.
Since entering the natural waters, wheat carp has been breeding in the southern waters, and wheat carp is very capable of reproduction. When the wheat carp reaches sexual maturity, the number of eggs that can be laid is about 100,000 to 150,000. At the same time, wheat carp will continue to increase the number of eggs conceived as they grow with their own weight.
However , it is not possible to reproduce naturally in ponds and small ditches , with the exception of larger rivers and reservoirs. However, although the wheat carp mixed in the ranks of the mud carp has been breeding in the southern waters for more than 30 years, it is still difficult to distinguish between grass carp and wheat mud carp because it looks very similar to grass carp.
If you look closely, there is red in the corner of the eye of the wheat carp and there is no grass carp
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" > how grass carp and wheat carp are distinguished</h1>
Grass carp, commonly known as grass mix, mixed, northeast people called grass roots or straw bags, while Cantonese people call it carp, oil carp, grass carp, anchovies and so on. Grass carp is a common freshwater fish in China, and it is also one of the "four big fish" as long as it is farmed.
Grass carp and wheat carp look very similar in shape, both are cylindrical in shape and have a long body; the part of the fish's belly is round and straight. The dorsal fin of the wheat carp is slightly more raised than that of the grass carp, but the most obvious difference is the color of the fish's eye, because the corners of the wheat carp are red and the grass carp is black and white.
Grass carp
If you want to learn to distinguish between these two kinds of fish, you must first distinguish between the size of the fish, because the growth limit of wheat carp is about 20 pounds, while grass carp can grow to more than 50 pounds, or even larger. So, once the physique exceeds the limit of the wheat carp, it must be grass carp.
In addition, it can be distinguished from the top of the fins. The fins of grass carp are rounded and neat as a whole, while the fins of wheat carp will be slightly shaped under close inspection, but it is not easy to see without looking closely.
The scale color of grass carp and mud carp, although somewhat different, is not obvious, but the back color of grass carp is grass blue, while the color of wheat carp is slightly darker. If you distinguish from the fishing line, the lateral line of the wheat carp has a spotted shape and is not obvious, while the lateral line of the grass carp is both obvious and neat.
Wild wheat mud carp
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" > how to catch good wheat mud carp</h1>
1. Fishing position selection. If you want to catch wheat carp well, you must first find a hiding place for wild wheat carp. Wild wheat mud carp usually choose sand and gravel basal habitat, or near stakes, rock piles, cliffs and aquatic weeds; they can also choose sharp tips, water outlets, and areas with food sources.
2. Nesting skills. Fishing for wheat crucian carp nesting is different from our usual crucian carp and grass carp nesting, because according to the feeding preferences of wheat carp, peanut flour, sweet potato flour, rapeseed cake and bran should be used, or the nest material such as earthworm powder and red worm powder with high animal protein should be used, and the effect of attracting fish is obvious.
3. Bait use. In addition to eating peanut flour and sweet potato flour, wheat mud carp can appropriately add some milk powder and soy milk powder to the bait. In addition, there are some differences in the feeding habits of wheat mud carp and native mud carp, if you simply want to catch wheat mud carp, you also need to order fishy bait, so the effect will be better.
Pictured: A 12-pound giant wheat carp caught
<h1 class= "pgc-h-center-line" > Finally, the killer had something to say</h1>:
Although the wheat mud carp is not a ferocious carnivorous fish, it needs to eat a lot of food and living space because of its reproductive ability and growth rate. Therefore, for the native native fish, it has caused the compression of living space.
Because in the environment of natural waters, food sources are usually limited, if the population of wheat mud carp continues to grow, it will inevitably lead to the decline and disappearance of other species. Therefore, these invasive alien species should be taken away in natural waters, regardless of size.
In particular, if you catch tilapia, scavenger fish, and ferocious Egyptian catfish, even if you don't take them home to eat, you should "properly" dispose of them so as not to let them return to the natural waters to breed again.
Wheat carp and grass carp do you distinguish clearly