The Catla fish is an economically very important South Asian freshwaterfish. It is in the carp family Cyprinidae.
众所周知,许多与众不同t names such asKatla, Katol, Indian Major carp, Chepti, Baudhekra, Bacha, KarakatlaandTambra.
The fish is mainly found in the rives and lakes in northern India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Myanmar.
The Catla fish is a freshwater species, and it is found rarely in brakish water. Some common habitats of this fish species are baors, beels, canals, ditch, floodplains, haors, lake, ponds and lakes.
The fish is generally marketed in fresh condition, and it command a good market price and consumer demand.
Today, the Catla fish is commercially cultivated in many countries where it is available. It’s higher growth rate and compatibility with other major carps, specific surface feeding habit, and consumer preference have increased it’s popularity in carp polyculture system among the fish farmers. Read some more information about thiscarp fishspecies below.
Table of Contents
Characteristics
Catla fish have distinctive looks with large and broad head. They have a large protruding lower jaw, and upturned mouth. Scales of these fish are large and they have greyish scales on their dorsal side.
The scales are whitish on their belly. Their body is short and deep, somewhat literally compressed. Their eyes are large and visible from underside of the head.
Lower lip of the Catla fish is very thick, and the upper lip is absent. Their anal fin is short, dorsal fin inserted slightly in advance of pelvic fins.
The caudal fin is forked, and the pectoral fins are long extending to pelvic fins. Fish with average body weight of 1-2 kg is generally sold in the market. But Catla fish can grow up to 20 kg. Their body length can reach around 1 meter in aged and large sized fish.
Feeding
Catla fish are surface and midwater feeder. The young are feed on both zooplankton and phytoplankton, but the mature fish are generally feed on zooplankton.
Forcommercial fish farming, they can be feed on both natural andsupplementary feeds. Commercial carpfish feedsare usually good for them for better production.
They are also well habituated in taking wheat bran, rice bran, mustard oil cake and other supplementary fish feeds under aquaculture system.
Breeding
The Catla fish can breed naturally in flowing water bodies. Especially they breed very well in rivers, and floodplains during rainy season.
They generally reach maturity at their 3-5 years of age. Breeding in stagnant water bodies such as pond, is also possible. But this will require hormonal induction.
Breeding Catla fish artificially is very difficult, because it requires precise environmental conditions for spawning.
Uses
The Catla fish is bred and cultivated mainly for food. It is a very important fish species in aquaculture, and used as food. It is also often used as game fish in some place.
It is always marketed in fresh condition, and it command a good market price and consumer demand.
Special Notes
The Catla fish grow relatively faster as compared to some other carp fish species. It is one of the most important aquaculturedfreshwater fishspecies in South Asia.
It grows best at water temperature between 25°-32° c. It is very suitable and generally grown in polyculture ponds with other carp fish species, especially withRuiandMrigal fish.
Total production of Catla fish is increasing gradually. It is generally sold and consumed fresh, locally and regionally. In case of transportation, it is generally transported on ice.
Consumers generally prefer Catla with 1-2 kg body weight. However, review full profile of the Catla fish in the following chart.
| Name | Catla |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Genus | Catla |
| Species | C. catla |
| Binomial Name | Catla catla |
| Other Names | Known by many different names such asKatla, Katol, Indian Major carp, Chepti, Baudhekra, Bacha, KarakatlaandTambra |
| Breed Purpose | Mainly food |
| Special Notes | Grow very fast, one of the most important aquacultured freshwater fish species in South Asia, this fish grows best at water temperature between 25°-32° c, very good for growing with other carp fish species, consumed fresh, total production increasing gradually |
| Breeding Method | Naturalandartificial |
| Weight | Can grow up to 20 kg |
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| Climate Tolerance | Native climates |
| Body Color | Greyish with whitish belly |
| Rarity | Common |
| Availability | South Asia |
