Bighead carp

Bighead carp ( Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)

The bighead carp ( Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) is a sociable open water fish of the family Cyprinidae, which was introduced in the 1960s with grass carp and silver carp from Asia to Europe.

Distribution and habitat

The bighead carp is native to rivers and associated standing water in southern China. He was, however, often, outside of its original distribution area, in Asia and in the 1960s also exposed in Europe.

Features

Way of life

The bighead carp was like the silver carp and grass carp introduced for the control of aquatic plants, often under the umbrella term " East Asian herbivores ". Soon it was found, however, that the bighead carp for this purpose is not suitable, because it primarily feeds on zooplankton, which it filters from the open water.

The fish are mostly in small flocks on the go, a natural increase does not take place in Central Europe.