Despite their prolific numbers, carp are not easy fish to catch, and anglers need a lot of patience and skill to do so. Carp are related to the domestic goldfish.
Other names: Afrikaans -- Karp :
Carp are omnivorous, feeding of insect larvae, worms and vegetation and only have teeth in the back of their throat and find much of their diet by sucking up mouthfuls of mud from the bottom of the pond, lake, dam or river bed, often causing the water to become so muddied that other fish are unable to live in these conditions.
The flesh of the carp has a 'muddy' flavour, which can be eliminated if the fish is prepared and cooked correctly. Some parts of central and eastern Europe rank carp high up on the menu.
Carp have a variety in their scales, with the fullscale carp having evenly sized scales, the mirror carp having having only a double row of greatly enlarged scales and others having no scales at all, as with the leather carp. Carp were introduced to the Cape in the 18th and 19th century, having originated in China.
Interesting facts about Carp statistics / bio:
Diet: Carp are omnivorous, feeding of insect larvae, worms and vegetation. They only have teeth in the back of their throat, and suck up mouthfuls of mud from the bottom of the pond, lake, dam or river bed.
Reproduction (Breeding): Carp have an extremely large reproduction rate, a large female having the capability of laying over half a million at a time. The eggs hatch within three to six days, enabling immigrant carp to fully populate a new stretch of water within a short period of time
Distribution (Range): Carp do not survive in cold waters such as those found in Lesotho, but are otherwise widely distributed throughout all the provinces.
Size: The average weight of the carp is 1,5 kg, but the weight can go as high as 24 kg.
Colour: The back of the carp is olive-brown, the flanks are yellow-green or bronze and the underparts are cream or pale yellow. The fins are greenish brown, and sometimes tinted with a pinkish red.
Most like: The carp is similar to tench, but can be distinguished by the fact that the carp has a pair of barbels on each side of its mouth, while the tench has only one on each side.
Habitat: Carp prefer still waters with a muddy bottom and an simple supply of aquatic vegetation.
Best places to see the Carp in Southern Africa:
• Kruger National Park
 Fishes of Southern Africa >> Printable Freshwater Fish List <<
South African Fish Species >> Printable Freshwater Fish List <<
Wildlife - Fauna & Flora of Southern Africa
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