AGE AND GROWTH OF MIRROR CARP (CYPRINUS CARPIO L.) AT SEROW FISH FARM

AGE AND GROWTH OF MIRROR CARP
(CYPRINUS CARPIO L.) AT SEROW FISH FARM
By
H.M. BISHAI
Zoology Department, Fa,culty of Science, Cairo University
AND
W. LABIB
Institute of Inlasul Wate1’s and Fish Culture, Barrage Fish Farm Cairo.

INTRODUCTION
The mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) i)8ia native of central Europe,
hut it is now widely spread allover the world and livessuccessfullyin nearly
all tropical and subtropical countries. It ~ considered one of the most
important fish used for culture.
In Egypt the common carp was first introduced from Indonesia in 1934
(Koura and El-Bolock, 1960). In 1949 it was decided to replace the Indonesian carp with the European common carp which was imported from
ClosioFarm, Cher Department, France. Since the introduction and successful acclimitization of carp, all the studies were restricted to experimental
work at Barrage and Serow Fish Farms. These studies dealt with. one
aspect of the biology or the other and were carried out for limited periods
and on small numbers of carp. (Koura and El-Bolock, 1960 ; Iman and
Hashem, 1960 ; El-Bolock and Labih, 1968). All the previous studies are
inadequate and complete knowledge of the biology of carp is greatly needed
before planning any program on extensive fish culture in Egypt.
As a contribution of the knowledge of the general biology of carp the
study of the age, growth, fecundity, eeproduction, development, food and
feeding habits were carried out. The present study is a part of a series of
studies on the biology of carp. (Bishai and Lahib, 1972, and Bishai et
alii, 1972 a and b).