Sharpbelly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sharpbelly |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hemiculter
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| Species: |
leucisculus
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| Synonyms | |
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The sharpbelly or wild carp (Hemiculter leucisculus) is a type of fish. It lives in warm freshwater and sometimes in slightly salty water. This fish is part of the carp family.
It originally comes from large rivers and lakes. You can find it in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and the Amur River area. The sharpbelly has also moved to other countries. These include Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of the former Soviet Union. In these new places, it has sometimes taken over from local fish species.
About the Sharpbelly
The sharpbelly can grow up to 23 centimeters (about 9 inches) long. Its back is green-gray, and its belly is white.
Where It Lives
This fish prefers water that is about 18 to 22 degrees Celsius (64 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit). It likes water with a pH of 7.0, which means it's neutral. The water also needs to be a bit hard.
What It Eats
The sharpbelly eats many different things. Its diet mostly includes tiny water animals called zooplankton. It also eats insects, small crustaceans, and algae. Sometimes, it eats detritus, which is decaying plant and animal matter.
Sharpbelly and People
This fish is not very important for fishing in most places. However, in China, it is sometimes caught and canned. In Hong Kong, people usually do not like to eat sharpbelly. This is because its meat does not taste very good and has many small bones.
Fish Parasites
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Like most fish, the sharpbelly can have different kinds of parasites. One example is a tiny worm-like creature called Paradiplozoon hemiculteri. This parasite lives on the gills of the sharpbelly. What's special about this parasite is that two of them join together for their whole lives.
