Breeding crucian carp was a very convenient thing and was widely used by peasants of Russia. This type of fish quickly adapted to existence in ponds, and also got along well with carp in spacious ponds. In modern times, breeding crucian carp has become possible at home, but with strict observance of some important rules and conditions.
Breeding Features
There are two types of crucians in total:
- gold (ordinary);
- silver.
Crucian carp is the most common species, however, for direct breeding it is much more preferable to use silver:
- smaller, which means it can get along in smaller ponds;
- growth rate is much higher;
- gaining mass much faster than goldfish.
Crucian per se is a type of fish with a very strong immune system. Diseases such as rubella or branchiomycosis rarely affect carp, unlike the same carps and any other species of fish. High resistance to such serious diseases is a significant factor when choosing fish for breeding.
Another serious advantage of crucian carp can be considered their unpretentiousness: in conjunction with strong immunity, crucian carp becomes extremely convenient for breeding species. For the same reasons, this fish can be kept under more severe conditions than any other.
Also, crucians adapt perfectly to winter conditions. When covering the reservoir with ice, they are ready to eat literally any food that they can find. And such actions will not affect their health and lifestyle.
What is necessary? Features of the pond and feeding
Before you start arranging a reservoir for breeding crucian carp at home, you should make a list of everything you need. Usually the first thing required is:
- a pond or reservoir of an appropriate size (depending on the method of breeding);
- aerator (for the winter, so that the fish does not die from a lack of oxygen);
- compound feed (grain / feed grain);
- various fishing gear.
Next, you will need the most important thing - yearlings and fish-producers. If there are no problems with young females, then a good male with flowing milk will have to fork out significantly. For a small pond, these will need 5 pieces, and this must be taken into account.
The key point is also the presence of a small pike (25-30 cm). With a certain method of breeding crucian carp, the fish can begin to become smaller (growth and development slows down significantly). This is due to the large population after spawning. The fry begin to depress each other depressingly on each other, as well as interfere with adults.
The ecosystem of the pond will begin to deteriorate, but it is the pike that will put things in order. It will absorb fry, creating conditions for natural selection, bringing back to normal the number of crucians in the reservoir.
In principle, you can use other large fish, but the best choice will still be pike. In the future, it will be possible to catch it on a spinner in order to maintain an adequate population of crucian carp.
Breeding process
Male producers can be bought, but can also be caught in a natural reservoir. It is better to focus on males of golden crucian carp (50/50 can be), while females should be exclusively silver. Their sizes should be as close as possible so that everything works out as it should.
When breeding, an important detail should be taken into account: before spawning begins, females must be kept away from male males.
In female goldfish, puberty occurs at 2 years of age. However, for breeding purposes, females that are 3-6 years old should be used. It is at this age that breeding crucian carp at home will be most successful.
The spawning period most often occurs in June-July. And the pond or pond itself should be quite large, with a depth of at least one and a half meters. The larger the pond, the better for the fish. However, you should not create an excessively large body of water: for 20 yearlings, 5 to 5 meters of the surface of the water, from 1.5 meters deep, will be enough.
Planting plants in a pond is especially important, otherwise the crucian carp will not be able to adapt, its health will deteriorate, and, therefore, breeding will not work.
Feed the crucian should be in a clearly designated place, where at a distance of 1 meter from the surface of the water surface (or at the bottom) a sheet of stainless steel (“feed table”) will be installed. Excess feed will remain on the sheet, which will eventually rise, and the feed will be removed.
If this is not done, then the remaining food will contaminate and spoil the water. As a result, all crucians will die without exception.
As soon as spawning is over, crucian larvae will appear on 3-6 days. These dates are directly affected by the temperature of the water in the pond: when it is below + 20 °, then it will take more time, if it is higher, on the contrary. Crucian larvae should be kept in a spawning pond for 14-21 days.
For maximum comfort of the larvae and their future activity, fertilizers from humus, manure and peat should be used. However, the spawning pond should be fertilized before it is filled with water.
After the young hatch, it must be moved from the spawning reservoir to the outgrowth. The most suitable period for this is 6-8 days. Transplanting fry at an earlier date is not recommended due to dangerous consequences: at this time, young growth is still so weak that even the most gentle and accurate movements can seriously injure them.
It is necessary to carry out the descent of water in a spawning pond as slowly as possible. After all, young animals can become entangled in the grass and die in the shortest possible time.
Autumn is ideal for catching fish. This is the most favorable period for such actions.
With a competent approach to the procedure, crucian carp will feel good and delight with large offspring. This type of fish is omnivorous, therefore it is able to survive, even if it is not fed at all, however, special compound feed will significantly affect their growth and activity. A well-made reservoir according to all the rules will provide the ultimate comfort for crucian carp.