Species guide
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
A bottom-feeding component of most polyculture systems. Responds well to slow-sinking, water-stable pellets that stay intact on the pond floor.
- Optimal stocking
- 3,000–5,000per hectare
- Maximum stocking
- 8,000per hectare
- Optimal temperature
- 25–32degrees Celsius
- Typical harvest size
- 500 g – 1.5 kg
- Typical culture period
- 8–12 months
- Feeding zone
- Bottom and column; prefers sinking feed
Water to aim for
- Temperature
- 25–32 °C
- Dissolved oxygen
- 4 mg/L or more
- pH
- 6.5–9.0
Feeding by growth stage
General starting ranges, as a share of the fish's body weight each day. Adjust to appetite, water temperature and oxygen, and ask your advisor for your own pond.
Fry to fingerling
- Fish size
- Up to 50 g
- Feed per day
- 5–8% of body weight
- Meals per day
- 4
Feed
Juvenile
- Fish size
- 50–200 g
- Feed per day
- 3–4% of body weight
- Meals per day
- 3
Feed
Grow-out
- Fish size
- 200–500 g
- Feed per day
- 2.5–3% of body weight
- Meals per day
- 2
Feed
Finishing
- Fish size
- Above 500 g
- Feed per day
- About 2% of body weight
- Meals per day
- 2
Feed
Floating and sinking feed together
Common carp forage on the bottom and do best on a sinking feed. They will take floating pellets too, but in a polyculture pond the surface feeders get there first, so make sure enough sinking feed reaches the carp.
Good practice
- Make a sinking feed the main diet.
- Feed in the cooler hours, early morning and evening.
- Reduce the ration in winter, when the fish slow down.
- Keep the pond bottom in good condition so the fish keep feeding on it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Relying only on floating feed in a polyculture pond.
- Feeding the summer ration in cold months.
- Neglecting the pond bottom, where carp feed.
- Using a low-protein feed for the whole culture period.
- Not grading, so a few large fish take most of the feed.
Recommended products
Sinking Grower Feed
SinkMax Grower 26/4
Premium sinking grower feed with balanced protein for optimal FCR and muscle development
- 26% Protein Content
- 4% Fat Content
Sinking Grower Feed
SinkMax Grower 22/4
Commercial-grade sinking grower feed for cost-effective growth performance
- 22% Protein Content
- 4% Fat Content
Activating Water, Biology Naturally
Micro Pond PSB
Advanced soil probiotics that activate water biology naturally
- Soil Probiotic Action
- Natural Activation of pond biology
Read more
- Guide · 7 minFloating vs Sinking Feed: Complete Guide for Indian Polyculture
- Guide · 6 minHow to Calculate Daily Fish Feed Requirement: A Practical Guide
- Guide · 8 minComplete Guide to Water Quality Management in Aquaculture
- Guide · 4 minCommon Feeding Mistakes in Traditional Aquaculture and How to Avoid Them
- Guide · 4 minKeeping Fish Healthy: Biosecurity, Pond Management and Early Warning Signs
- Guide · 3 minFeed Optimisation: Getting More Growth from Every Bag
- Guide · 3 minSeasonal Aquaculture: Best Practices for Each Season
- Guide · 3 minProbiotics in Aquaculture: What They Are and How to Use Them
- Guide · 3 minStocking Density: Finding the Right Balance for Your Pond
Work out feed for your common pond
Enter your stock count and average weight to get a daily feeding rate adjusted for water temperature — or ask the advisor and it will do the calculation for you.