Mud carp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mud carp |
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The mud carp (scientific name: Cirrhinus molitorella) is a type of ray-finned fish. It's also sometimes called dace. You can find these fish mostly in freshwater areas of southern China and Vietnam. They are an important fish for food in many parts of Asia.
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History of Mud Carp Farming
The mud carp is a fish that naturally lives in freshwater in Asia. It can be found in many rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. These include big rivers like the Mekong River and the Pearl River.
People in China started farming mud carp a long time ago. This began during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD). At that time, it was not allowed to fish for common carp. So, farmers needed a different fish to raise.
Chinese farmers found a clever way to raise mud carp. They used a method called polyculture. This means raising different types of fish together in the same pond. Mud carp eat things from the bottom of the pond. Other fish, like grass carp, eat plants from the top. Silver carp or bighead carp eat things in the middle. This way, all the fish had enough food without competing too much.
Where Mud Carp Live
Mud carp are usually found in warm, subtropical areas. They live in muddy parts of rivers and deltas. You can find them in freshwater along the Mekong River and Pearl River systems.
In some parts of China, like Guangdong province and Guangxi autonomous region, mud carp are very common. They make up about 30% of all the freshwater fish there.
Mud carp have also been introduced to other countries. These include Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Many mud carp are raised on special fish farms in China.
What Mud Carp Eat
Mud carp are omnivores. This means they eat both plants and animals. Their main diet includes water plants and small insects. When mud carp are raised on farms, they are often fed special pellets.
Mud Carp as Food
Mud carp is a popular fish for eating, especially in Asia. It is often inexpensive to produce. Because of this, it is commonly eaten by people in the areas where it is caught or farmed.
Most mud carp are sold alive and eaten fresh. However, they can also be dried and salted to preserve them. Sometimes, mud carp are processed into other foods. These include fish cakes, fish balls, or dumplings. You can find these products in China and in Chinese communities around the world. A well-known canned dish is fried dace with salted black beans.
See also
- Dace
- Common carp
