Labeo Rohita Fish

This is famous and very valuable carp distributed in the plains of India except in the southern part. It attains the length of more than 90 cm. The body is elongated and bluish or brownish grey on the dorsal side. Snout projects bluntly which abruptly undershot mouth. The barbells are feebly developed, lips are thick with inner fold and the fins are grey, red or blackish. It is pond and bottom feeder both and most suitable for pond culture. They can make easy dive in the water. The younger fries may feed on zooplankton, fleas etc. but adults are found to be vegetarian and feed upon the bottom sand, mud, vegetable leaves of aquatic plants, algae etc. It breeds in flooded river during monsoon period. Its fecundity is reported to be greater than that of Catla. Female lays about 2 million eggs at a time young ones may attain a length up to 45 cm and a weight of about 675 gm in one year. Fries may be transported over long distances with little mortality