Open Veterinary Journal, (2024), Vol. 14(1): 1-11

Review Article

10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i1.1

Behavior and management of carp fish: A review

Hesham H. Mohammed^1*, Mohamed Ebrahim², Mohamed I. Youssef¹, Al-Sadik Y. Saleem¹ and Adel Abdelkhalek³

¹Department of Behavior, Management of Animal, Poultry, and Aquatic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

²Department of Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo, Badr City 11829, Egypt

³Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo, Badr City 11829, Egypt

*Corresponding Author: Hesham H. Mohammed. Department of Behavior, Management of Animal, Poultry, and Aquatic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt. Email: heshamvet_hosny [at] yahoo.com

Submitted: 01/10/2023 Accepted: 15/12/2023 Published: 31/01/2024

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ABSTRACT

Nowadays, fish production aims to achieve a continuous and immediate generation of top-quality animal protein from the finest sources. Moreover, the aquaculture industry holds a vital position in addressing the rising global appetite for fish and seafood products. In addition, it has played a substantial role in providing affordable animal protein in Egypt in recent years. Therefore, rapid development has occurred in the industrial aquaculture sector in Egypt to compensate for the decrease in red meat production. According to previous studies, Egypt occupied the first rank among African countries and the ninth position globally in the field of fish farming production. This achievement aimed to link up the disparity between fish production and consumption in Egypt. Carp, due to its economic importance in this industry, has expanded worldwide with more evident ecological influences. The carp fish belongs to the Cyprinidae family, which encompasses seven subfamilies, approximately 220 genera, and has been associated with around 20,000 documented species. Given the importance of carp with different species, this work reviews the management, behavior, and different rearing systems of some popular carp species in Egypt. Data search was done on PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for the keywords including fish farming, carp fish, management, behavior, rearing systems, Egypt, Africa, and Worldwide. In Egypt, the output of carp is ranked second only to tilapia in aquaculture. A polyculture system is more often used in carp rearing, particularly when raising tilapia, to maximize growth rates, minimize feed conversion ratios, and reduce the amount of fat in the corpses. Furthermore, agro-ecologically valuable agriculture has been linked to integrated carp monoculture. Crop rising was the key to the successful development of pond aquaculture.

Keywords: Carp, Polyculture, Monoculture, Extensive and intensive system, Integrate fish farm.

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Introduction

Numerous African countries were initially exposed to aquaculture at the beginning of the 20th century to meet the recreational fishing demands of the colonial era (Hecht et al., 2006). Aquaculture production worldwide has experienced significant and swift growth in recent years. This can be attributed mainly to a range of innovations that have enhanced control over the production process and competitiveness. These innovations encompass various forms, including groundbreaking concepts and the application of knowledge adapted from terrestrial food production systems. In the wall artwork of an ancient tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh, which dates back to 2500 BC, there is a depiction of a man gathering fish from an earthenware pond, marking the earliest recorded instance of aquaculture in the past (Bardach et al., 1972). Egypt, despite its vast arid land, has a rich history of engaging in aquaculture and holds the top position in Africa, particularly in freshwater aquaculture production (Suloma and Ogata, 2006). Seven types of finfish, including tilapia, various mullet species, different carp species, catfish, bayad, sea bream, and sea bass, constitute the majority of aquaculture production (Sadek et al., 2006, 2013). Aquaculture production is primarily driven by the industry sector which is privately owned, accounting for 98.5% of the whole, while the public sector plays a minor role, contributing just 1.5% (El-Naggar et al., 2008). Fish represent a significant economic protein source when compared to alternative animal protein sources. In developing nations, fish contribute approximately 30% of the whole per capita animal protein consumption (Wang et al., 2015). Fish holds a fundamental place in the traditional Egyptian diet and serves as a crucial and cost-effective source of animal protein (Soliman and Yacout, 2016). The aquaculture sector in Egypt witnessed substantial growth starting in 1998. This growth was the result of continuous and comprehensive efforts by the Egyptian authorities in previous years, coupled with increasing private sector investments (Soliman and Yacout, 2016). As a result, Egypt’s aquaculture industry surged 1,561,457 tons in 2018 compared to 139,389 tons in 1998, constituting 71% of the entire African aquaculture production (FAO, 2003-2020). Nowadays increasingly, there is a heightened recognition of the significance of consuming nourishing foods, and fish is steadily gaining popularity due to its distinct nutritional advantages. Fish is acknowledged as a nutritionally valuable component of the human diet, attributed to its content of both macronutrients (such as proteins, lipids, and ash) and micronutrients (including vitamins and minerals) (Abdel Fattah et al., 2020). The rising demand for meeting the necessary protein production can be met through the implementation of intensive fish farming (Olopade et al., 2015(. Moreover, the objective of carp cultivation extends beyond human consumption; it also encompasses their utilization as biological weed controllers in aquatic environments. This practice is particularly prevalent in the United States, Egypt, and India. Despite, Egypt boasting the most extensive aquaculture industry on the African continent (CAPMAS, 2014), there was a decrease in the source of animal protein. The main goal is to diminish the disparity between fish production and consumption in Egypt. In addition, the predominant practice in freshwater aquaculture involves polyculture, combining Indian major carps such as Rui, Catla, and Mrigal with a variety of other carps, including silver carp, mirror carp, grass carp, common carp, and bighead carp (Dey et al., 2013; Emran et al., 2022), this represents 60% of the time, around overall production of aquaculture in freshwater. Carp production, on the other hand, constitutes approximately 17% of the total aquaculture output in Egypt and holds the second position, following tilapia (Adeleke et al., 2020). Frequently cultivated carp species include the common carp (Cyprinus carpio—L. 1758), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix—Valenciennes, 1844), and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella—Steindachner, 1866) (Hagar, 2014; Shaalan et al., 2018). The carp fish belongs to the Cyprinidae family, which encompasses seven subfamilies, approximately 220 genera, and has been associated with around 20,000 documented species (Howes, 1991). Carps are named after their natural geographical occurrence. In China, there are two main categories of carp: Chinese carps, comprising the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), and bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis), as well as the Indian major carps, which encompass catla (Catla catla), rohu (Labeo rohita), mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), and the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) (Aloden, 1996). The elevated expense associated with high-quality fish feed stands as one of the challenges impeding the progress of aquaculture, thus, in Egypt, carp are occasionally raised in composite fish culture alongside tilapia (Mur, 2014). The most distributed species of carp are presented in Figure 1.

Fig. 1. The most prevalent carp species.

Grass carp

The grass carp, scientifically known as C. idella, stands out as one of the most widely cultivated freshwater fish species globally due to its economic significance (FAO, 2016; Shehata et al., 2018). This fish species exhibits notable reproductive capabilities, boasts rapid growth rates, is nutritionally rich, and originally hails from China. It was initially brought to Egypt during the 1980s (Essa et al., 2004; Saleh, 2007). Following the Second World War, it was introduced into numerous countries across all continents. This has garnered growing interest among fishery biologists who see its potential for controlling aquatic organisms (Opuszyński, 1981). After being consistently stocked in government hatcheries for several decades, in 2012, a substantial quantity of approximately a total of 44.226 million grass carp fingerlings was distributed (Gafrd, 2016). Grass carp contribute positively to the environment and public health by enhancing it through the removal of refuge vegetation that conceals snails. This, in turn, enhances the predation process carried out by black carp (Hamouda and Moustafa, 2020). Grass carp typically exhibit incomplete digestion, resulting in roughly 50% of the consumed discharged dietary substances in the form of feces. This supports a substantial number of other fish species’ biomass in the polyculture system (Jhingran and Pullin, 1985). Hamouda and Moustafa (2020) mentioned that grass carp possess an exceptional ability to process a significant amount of aquatic plants, releasing and recycling the nutrients contained within them. This stimulation of preferred plankton communities leads to increased fish production and a reduction in freshwater wastage.

The grass carp is originally native to the rivers of China, but it was incorporated into numerous other countries primarily to control biological aquatic weeds and macrophytes in both natural water bodies and artificial ponds (Aloden, 1996). This species is distinguished by its lack of barbels, a terminal and slightly oblique mouth, a moderate to large scale count ranging from 38 to 47, a complete lateral line, and two rows of laterally compressed, pharyngeal teeth with strong serrations featuring prominent parallel grooves (Wu, 1977; Chen, 1998). Grass carp primarily feed on various species of macrophytes in their natural diet (Liu et al., 1963). During the breeding season, secondary sex characteristics are developed in grass carp, such as thicker and serrated 1st rays on their pectoral fins, along with the growth of rough nuptial tubercles on their opercula and scales. However, males tend to lose these tubercles after mating. Grass carp often exhibit incomplete digestion, resulting in approximately 50% of consumed food material being excreted in the form of feces. This supports a substantial of other fish species’ biomass in the polyculture system (Jhingran and Pullin, 1985). Polyculture techniques have been used in rearing grass carp with different species of carp such as silver and common carp, as mentioned before by Chilton and Muoneke (1992).

Common carp

Among the freshwater fish, the common carp prefers rivers, lakes, and ponds. It only occasionally inhabits brackish water (Barus, 2002). Moreover, one of the most widely cultivated and significant commercial freshwater fish in the world is the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) (Biro, 1995; Zhou et al., 2003), representing 11% of the global production of freshwater aquaculture (FAO, 2007). Various pond aquaculture systems in Asia are used to cultivate common carp, which accounts for more than 90% of this production (FAO, 2007). Due to its ability to adapt to a variety of ecological conditions, this rapidly growing fish is frequently referred to as an “ecological engineer” or “natural specialist” (Yaqoob, 2021). Farag et al. (2014) mentioned that carp fish had a terminal mouth and no teeth on either of their jaws, but this was made up for by pharyngeal teeth and a well-developed pharyngeal pad. The maxillary barbels are situated at the angle of the mouth and are smaller than the mandibular barbels. The front of the dorsal fin has a powerful, toothed spine and a long, concave base with 17–22 branched rays. Scales on this lateral line range from 32 to 38. There are between 36 and 38 vertebrae (FAO, 2007). The common carp modifies its eating habits, feeding niche, and behavior when food is scarce. The common carp has an impact on other fish species’ eating patterns and behaviors, which may or may not improve the growth and behavior of those species. The common carp is exceptionally adaptable when there is no enough food available. There is proof that common carp consume other fish fry in large quantities when they are deprived of natural food (Weber et al., 2010). Takeuchi et al. (2002) cited that carp fry feed on zooplankton, and by growing up, they become omnivorous. Warm-water fish such as carp thrive in muddy, eutrophic (extremely productive, rich in organic and mineral nutrients) waters. It spawns twice a year, once from January to March and the other between July and August, in pond environments. Common carp can also be raised in substantial, naturally based monoculture production systems that are supplied in natural waterways and stagnant water ponds, lakes, and temporarily flooded areas. The fry is placed into nursery ponds when they are 4–5 days old. In temperate regions, fish that are one summer old (20–100 g) must be raised to 250–400 g in their second year. A stocking rate of 4,000–6,000 is used per hectare if only cereals are fed, plus roughly 3,000 Chinese carp. Fortunately given that most carp are eaten domestically, the species will continue to be significant where it has historically been cultivated (FAO, 2009). Utilizing extensive and semi-intensive management regimes, the species is frequently raised in earth ponds, allowing for the use of natural resources for development and growth (Adámek et al., 2012).

Big head and silver carp

Kolar et al. (2007) mentioned that large rivers with turbulence are typically where bighead and silver carp spawn, and the current carries the eggs and larvae. Moreover, they are thought to perish if they sink because they are greater in density than water and have a higher density. Silver carp and bighead carp came into existence after the Second World War in numerous nations on all continents, and they assisted in boosting fishery production by raising common carp alongside them in ponds (Opuszyński, 1981). Silver carp is a natural inhabitant in the river systems of China and introduced to numerous nations for aquaculture (Aloden, 1996). Bighead carp are large cyprinids that are native to eastern Asia and are regarded as invasive species in North America (Conover et al., 2007). Silver carp feeds on both phytoplankton and zooplanktons; furthermore, its growth rate depends on stocking density, natural food sources, supplied feeding, and competition with other species in polyculture, feed conversion rate, and environmental conditions (Aloden, 1996). Big head carp is mostly a zooplankton feeder, its food resembles that of the alimentary canal of the Indian major carp Catla, which consumes zooplankton as well, is significantly shorter than that of the silver carp, as mentioned before in Aloden (1996). Murty et al. (1986) noticed that while episodic vertical movements did not start until six hours after hatching in silver carp, occasional whirling started right away. In the aquaculture system, they breed during (July–August) but do not naturally spawn in the still waters of ponds and tanks; instead, it does so in the moving waters of their natural habitat (Aloden, 1996).

Indian major carp

Weerakoon (2013) mentioned that employing imports from the People’s Republic of China and India of brood stock of Chinese and Indian big carps, respectively, Indian carps were produced through induced spawning. The three major Indian carp originated in the rivers and backwaters of Northern India, Pakistan, and Burma (Deepananda et al., 2014) as natural inhabitants of the freshwater of India and are often mistaken for an allied form that exists in Thailand. It primarily feeds on water column vegetation but also engages in some browsing (Aloden, 1996). It is spawning migration to their various breeding grounds (Tsai and Ali, 1985 and 1986). Rahman (2008) cited that the age of maturity for spawning in Indian major carp is 3–5 years, while Aloden (1996) mentioned that it takes 22 months for it to reach maturity in ponds, where it does so in the second year. Catla’s spawning season lasts from May to August and from June to September in north India and Pakistan (Aloden, 1996).

Mirror and scaly carp

There are currently many common carp breeds and strains that have undergone genetic improvement due to centuries of intraspecific hybridization. The two primary phenotypes of carp that are currently cultivated in fish ponds in Central Europe are the scaly and mirror carp, which can be distinguished by the patterns on their scales (Hulák et al., 2010). Mirror carp (C. Carpiovar. specularis), leather carp (C. Carpiovar. nudus), and scale carp (C. Carpiovar. communis) are three varieties of common carp that are primarily confined to the cold upland waters and do not typically breed in the plains. Select ripe brood fish to ensure a successful induced breeding. Fish called scale carp are bottom-dwellers and carnivores. The whole of its body is covered in scales of average size. By using the induced breeding technique, seeds can be produced (Islam and Amin, 2016).

Behavior of carp

Fish behaviors are complicated and frequently alter as they get bigger and react to their environments as well as other living things. Behavior was recorded by using the focal sample technique (Altmann, 1974) after direct or video recording (Abdel Fattah et al., 2020 and Said et al., 2020).

The most obvious behaviors in carp fish are presented in Figures 2 and 3.

Normal behaviors

Normal behaviors are responses to normal or familiar stimuli.

1. Swimming behavior: Mean frequency and duration of fish swimming, which is defined as fast or slow motion devoid of any behavioral activity at the top, middle, or bottom of an aquarium, depending on Chen et al. (2001). The erratic swimming of a carp fish could simply be an act of play or exercise. If carp seems unhealthy, that leads to poor behavior.
2. Activity: This observation, which was carried out in dependence on Ismail et al. (2009), involved animals remaining motionless in a group at the aquarium’s bottom for three minutes each day.
3. Schooling: Schooling is a fish behavior that happens when there is a bunching or group of fish that all face the same direction and maintain an equal distance apart.
4. Surfacing behavior: According to Ferey and Miller (1972), the fish periodically rise to the surface of the water to breathe. It is plumbing for air close to the surface of the water because the aquarium has a low level of dissolved oxygen.
5. Hiding Fish: For most fish, hiding is a completely normal behavior (fish are comfortable and healthy), particularly when they first enter their new aquarium (Mohamed et al., 2020).
6. Number of midline crossings: The tank was divided externally by a midline, and each aquarium’s number of fish midline crossings through 3 minutes was determined using the formulas and procedure (Scott et al., 2003).
7. Sitting on the Bottom: Spending a lot of time at the bottom of the tank may be normal behavior for your fish.
8. Scratching (chafing) behavior: In accordance with Fall (2005) and Neto et al. (2020), the average frequency and length of time spent rubbing any body part against any item.
9. Feeding behavior latency: This test measures the amount of time that has passed since the ration was placed throughout the aquarium at a specific time during the day (Scott et al., 2003).
10. Laying: This refers to the quantity of fish lying horizontally at the base every day within 3 minutes (Ismail et al., 2009).

Fig. 2. Normal behaviors of carp fish.

Fig. 3. Abnormal (stress) behavior of carp fish.

Stress behaviors (Abnormal behaviors)

Stress behaviors (abnormal behaviors) are reactions to upsetting, unsettling, or unexpected stimuli. Stocking density, nutrition strategies, and management practices have the ability to evoke responses to stress, stress tolerance, health parameters, and the development of aggressive behavior (Ashley, 2007).

1. Spiral movement: This refers to the quantity of fish swimming jerkily in the aquarium in a spiral pattern (Ismail et al., 2009).
2. Laterality: It is defined by how many fish are visible during lateral side movements at the bottom (Ismail et al., 2009).
3. Loss of equilibrium: This is the fish’s inability to stand up straight once or repeatedly in the water column (Calfee et al., 2016).
4. Hyperpigmentation (Advertising coloration): Hyperpigmentation occurs when fish change their color to communicate with other animals (obvious melanin pigment) (Mohamed et al., 2020).
5. Gasping at the surface: Its mouth at the surface and gasping for air at the top of the aquarium are signs of either poor water quality or stress brought on by poor water conditions, which is typically a lack of oxygen.
6. Listlessness: If your fish appear weary and drowsy, especially in improper water temperature, quality, and overfeeding.
7. Aggressive behavior: It relates to physical conflict and describes the behavior of making an attack in accordance with Ferey and Miller (1972), Fall (2005), and Barreto et al. (2011).

• Approach: Average time and frequency at which one fish moves directly in the direction of another fish.
• Chasing: Average occurrence and length of time between vigorously swimming fish.
• Fin Tugging: Average time and frequency that one fish bites the fin of another.
• Biting: The average number of times and at what intervals one fish will bite any part of another fish.
• Butting: The average frequency and length of time that one fish butts the genital papilla of another fish.
• Fleeing: The average frequency and duration that one fish swims away from the competition.
• Mouth pushing: The average frequency and duration of two fish brushing against each other’s open mouths while facing each other.
• Spreading of fins: The average frequency and duration at which one fish spreads all of its fins.

Management of carp

Although Egypt has a history of practicing aquaculture for many centuries, modern management techniques only have been implemented recently to increase output (Shaalan et al., 2018). Because of a paradigm change away from conventional broad aquaculture systems and toward semi-intensive and modern intensive aquaculture systems over the past 20 years, the Egyptian aquaculture industry has seen rapid growth (FAO, 2003-2020).

Egypt employs a number of aquaculture methods, including circular tanks, excavated floating fish cages, concrete and raceway ponds, pens and enclosures, and earthen ponds (Ghanem and Haggag, 2015). Among the different carp species, the following species are included:

1. Monoculture carp: This type is reared alone with no other species. Kestemont (1995) mentioned that the most effective species for intensive monoculture rearing is the common carp, which is fed only artificial feed and well-aerated water or flowing water (raceways). Furthermore, Billard et al. (1990) and Papoutsoglou et al. (2001) mentioned that carp monoculture is popular in several countries in Europe and Asia.
2. Polyculture carp: This type is reared with other species. One of the main tenets of carp pond polyculture is the co-rearing of fish species that consume entirely or partly different food ranges and feeding habits. This guarantees that a pond’s various biotopes will continue to support a variety of natural fish food organisms (Milstein and Svirsky, 1996; Woynarovich et al., 2010). The most common culture system used in freshwater aquaculture involves mixing different carp species, including grass carp, common carp, bighead carp, silver carp, and mirror carp (Rana et al., 2009; Dey et al., 2013; Bais, 2018), and it produces almost 60% of all freshwater aquaculture productivity (DoF, 2018). Current and potential fish species of carp polyculture includes: 1. Common carp; 2. Breams–carp bream, common, and silver; 3. Silver carp and bighead carp; and 4. Grass carp (Woynarovich et al., 2010).

Sharma and Leung (2000) mentioned that Indian farms cultured a number of carp species as well as some noncarp species (such as catfish and tilapia). Studies on carp polyculture using Indian major carp and exotic carp carried out at different stocking levels typically showed that the growth rates of the Indian main carp species were lower than those of the grass carp, common carp, and silver carp (Tripathi et al., 2000). The primary aquaculture methods used in Egypt and other nations involve the cultivation of Nile tilapia, common carp, and silver carp for maximum utilization of food (Abdel-Tawwab et al., 2007). Numerous studies have been conducted on freshwater ponds to examine the growth performance of common carp with tilapia (Zweig, 1989; Milstein, 1995). Khalil et al. (2023) cited that common carp are being raised in polyculture, which has improved their health status and innate immune system. The species percentage and initial body size of carp that are raised alongside tilapia determine the rate at which they grow (Papoutsoglou et al., 1992; Milstein, 1995). Both species achieved the highest growth rates, lowest food conversion ratios, and lowest carcass lipid contents in a proportion of 60% tilapia and 40% carp. Rearing of tilapia as an accompanying fish with carp in ponds is highly recommended for a 1-year-old carp, mullet and adult tilapia with feeding and fertilization can produce 1,218 kg/ha (El Bolock and Labib, 1967).

The carp-rearing systems in fish farms can be classified into four main categories as follows.

Extensive system

With fewer inputs, such as feed, fertilizer, and stocking density (1–2 fish/m²), it is conducted in earthen ponds or in floating cages situated in natural water compounds and produces lower yields than semi-intensive or intensive farming (Sharma and Leung, 2000). Mires (1995) cited the fact that organic and chemical fertilizers are used by fish farmers in extensive systems to increase primary production in ponds, avoid additional feed inputs, and be characterized by low fish production. Nevertheless, El-Gamal (1997) mentioned that because of the rise in salinity, carp rearing in Lake Qarun had ceased. Pond culture is the most widely used method for raising carp in Egypt’s freshwater and brackish water systems (Hamza, 1989).

Semi-intensive system

According to El-Gamal (1997), it supplies over 75% of Egypt’s total aquaculture output, and the majority of farms are situated in the northern or eastern regions of the Nile Delta. These farms’ water supply is derived from agricultural drainage water. Fertilizers are used in management strategies at lower intensification levels to boost dissolved oxygen levels and promote natural productivity. It has been discovered that crop yields from such methods are greater than those from naturally unfertilized systems (Green, 1992). The fertilizer-feed management technique increases fish yields while also providing the opportunity to use less feed (Teichert-Coddington and Rodeiguez, 1995). Between 5 and 10 fish are stocked per square meter. In government-run farms, polyculture was practiced in smaller ponds of 2 to 6 ha with the use of fertilizers and supplemental feeding, whereas semi-intensive aquaculture was more frequently practiced (FAO, 2003). When natural feed becomes scarce, energy becomes a limiting factor instead of protein, necessitating supplemental feed (Nazish and Mateen, 2011).

Intensive system

In Egypt, it is not very common; 5 farms produce 500 tons of fish annually, mostly tilapia, using extremely intensive concrete ponds and tank culture (El-Gamal, 1997). Some government and private farms adhere to this culture. In this system, different species were introduced into ponds or cages at high stocking rates that reached 20 fish per square meter. It has been suggested that reduced stress related to fish behavior results in improved growth and physiology in an intensive system (Papoutsoglou et al., 2001). Because of its numerous benefits, including high productivity per unit area, ease of management, harvesting, and net cage culture, which was first used in 1951, accounted for 42% of the carp produced in Japan in 1982. Culture in running water ponds, on the other hand, originated from the technique previously employed for winter carp taken from rice fields (Suzuki, 1986).

Integrate fish farm

In various countries in Asia and Europe, integrated carp monoculture has been linked to farming (duck, rice, cereals) (Billard et al., 1990). Rice-fish culture is an ancient custom in Egypt; it was conventionally practiced by rice farmers in the northern Nile delta. A price for rice rose, high-yielding varieties were adopted, which increased productivity, and reclaimed land, was turned into a monoculture of rice (Halwart, 1999). El-Bolock and Labib (1967) raised 20–56 g common carp fingerlings in rice fields for 2–3 months at a stocking rate of 750–1,250 fingerlings/ha; the fish yield was 200 kg/ha, and the rice yield increased by 5%–7% as a result. The fish yield that ranged from 91.2 to 104 kg/ha was over a growing period of 153 days when common carp fingerlings were stocked at a stocking rate of 714 fish/ha. In addition, the rice crop increased by 11.4% in comparison to no stocked paddies. Sadek and Moreau (1998) stated that after 90 days of culture, the mean yields of prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) at low and high stocking densities were 429.0 and 844.6 kg/ha, respectively. This was done by stocking the rice fields with 1 and 2 fish per m, respectively. In addition, carp pond farms have a higher agro-ecological value than plow lands and grasslands have a favorable impact on the microclimate of the area around them (Karnai and Szűcs, 2018).

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Conclusion

Comparatively speaking to other sources of animal protein, fish is an important economic source of protein, particularly in developing countries; it contributes to about 30% of the total amount of animal protein consumed. One of the most important freshwater fish for commerce and one of the most popularly raised species worldwide is carp. Carp is ranked second after tilapia in aquaculture production in Egypt. Polycuture system is more popular in the rearing of carp, especially with tilapia to achieve the highest growth rates, the lowest feed conversion ratios, and the lowest lipid contents in the carcasses. Moreover, integrated carp monoculture has been associated with agriculture with positive agro-ecological value. The successful development of pond aquaculture was in crop rearing.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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