Common name

 

Catla, Bhakur (Hindi)

Scientific name

 

Catla catla

Family

 

Cyprinidae

Distribution   India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar

 

It is and esteemed freshwater food fish of the country. It grows to 182 cm in length and can weigh up to 60 kg. The fish is cultured along with rohu and mrigal on large scale in the country. It can live in wide range of water quality and hence keeping them in aquarium is not a problem. It is peaceful with other fishes. Herbivorous and predominantly feed on plankton and also readily accept artificial feeds. Maturity is attained in the 2nd and 3rd year of life respectively by male and female. Sexes can be easily identified at maturity when females have bulging belly. Males have rough pectoral fins. The fish breeds once during monsoon in running water systems. Captive breeding is undertaken by induced breeding in the countries of its origin. Lay around 1.0 lakh eggs per kg body weight which hatch within 24 hours. The larvae start feeding plankton when about 72 hours old.

 

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