Cyprinid

Cyprinids are very widespread throughout the world. The group includes some of the more familiar aquarium species, such as barbs, and also many of the common non-tropical, such as goldfish and carp. These species vary greatly in size; some barbs only grow to 7.5cm(3in) or less, whereas some of the larger carp can grow to over 60cm(24in) and weigh as much as 22.5kg (501b).Many of these fish prefer to live in shoals, although they can become `loners' to quite an extent as they get older.

Very often, they have an appetite for vegetable matter, so plants within their aquarium may be subject to attack. You may not notice what is happening until the plants begin to look ragged or disappear entirely. Even then, you may suspect another source of attack, such as snails, before identifying the seemingly harmless barb as the culprit. Another frequent and annoying habit of some cyprinids is nipping the fins of other fishes, particularly those with long flowing Finn age or extended fins, such as angelfish, for instance.

Cyprinids are egg-scatterers. When they spawn, they go through an elaborate ritual in which the male chases and nudges the female throughout the tank, until he eventually persuades her into a densely planted area, where the eggs are released and fertilized, finally dropping among the fine leaves and sticking to them. No parental protection is afforded to the young; indeed, if the parents stumble on eggs or young they are likely to eat them.

Most cyprinids are undemanding and easy to care for. They usually prefer soft, slightly acidic water, but will do very well in most types of water, as long as it is kept clean. Carry out frequent partial water changes and maintain a temperature in the region of 24°C (7.5°F). These fish are not worried by bright lighting conditions, and if kept in shoal swill frequent the open waters, rarely distracted by the goings-on outside the aquarium, unless it is feeding time!

Characteristics of Cyprinid

1. Cyprinid is fresh water fish.


2. Their jaws and palate always remains toothless.


3. These fishes are egg layers and after breeding they do not protect their eggs.


4. Few species spends their time in salt water.

Importance of Cyprinid

1. Cyprinid is very chief food fish.


2. Cyprinids are specially introduced to water because they help in providing food, activity, and biological control for some species of the pest.


3. Cyprinid is very famous fish of aquarium.

Family of Cyprinid includes barbs, Chinese Algae, danios, minnows, rasboras, sharks and bitterlings. Goldfish is also a part of Cyprinid family; it also contains fishes such as roachs, flying fox daces etc.

Silver Cyprinid

Silver Cyprinid belongs to the species of ray finned fish which is from Cyprinidae family. These fishes are found in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda in their natural habitat that is fresh water lakes. They are small in size and very fast swimmers. In Tanzania the local name of the silver fish is dagaa, similarly in Kenya and Uganda they are famous with the name omena and mukene respectively.