Introduction to Catla catla

Habit, habitat, distribution, external characters and introduction to culture of Catla Catla

1. Catla catla Dr Anukriti Nigam Fergusson College (Auto.) Pune Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

2. INTRODUCTION Catla catla is commonly known as catla . There are several local names of Catla fish in India – They are bhakur , boassa , chepti , katla , tambra (Hindi, marathi ), botcha ( Telgu ), katla , thoppu meen (Tamil), katla (Kannada), Karnatka , katla ( Malyalam ), pla kra ho (Bengali), thambra (Gujarati). Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

3. Systematic Classification :- Kingdom - Animalia (Linnaeus, 1758) Phylum - Chordata (Bateson, 1885) Sub-phylum - Vertebrata (Cuvier, 1812 ) Class - Pisces Sub-class - Actinopterygii (Ray finned fishes) Family- Cyprinidae (Minnows & carp) Genus - Catla (Hamilton & Buchanan, 1849) Species - catla (Hamilton, 1822) Scientific name - Catla catla (Hamilton, 1822) Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

4. * Catla was first Recorded in 1822 as Cyprinus catla by Hamilton Buchanan. Habit and Habitat Catla catla is a planktivorous carp. Preferably feeding on zooplankton. It is fresh water surface feeder. Distribution It is predominant in Asia: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar. Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

5. Catla - Natural food and feeding habits Catla is a surface feeder. Feeding preferences and nutritional requirements change according to the developemental stage. Maximum feeding activity is seen during the morning hours (6.00 to 9.00) Larvae of Catla show positive selection for cladocerans , copepods and nauplii . Larvae starts feeding after 4 days of hatching on Brachionus sp., Ceriodaphnia sp.. Feeds on large sized prey once the mouth gap increases. Fingerlings feeds on planktonic algae, vegetable debris along with larger size zooplankton. Adults predominantly feeds on the surface and in mid-water. They are planktivorous and show a preference for zooplankton Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

6. Catla – Growth( Fastest growing fish) The average size of freshly hatched catla larvae is 4.7 mm . After 5, 10 and 15 days may reach an average size of 9, 15.6 and 27 mm, respectively Growth dependents on the density of the fishes stalked. It is rapid (7 to 10 cm per month) and allometric (W = 0.0069 L3.201, r = 0.999; length range: 23–91 cm, weight range: 175–12, 000 g) (Ahmed et al. , 2003). Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

7. 1 / 10 Prominent/Identifying characters Lips prominent and thick. Lower jaw with a movable articulation at the symphysis but without a prominent knob Brbles absent . Dorsal fin is long inserted above tip of pectoral fin with 17-19 rays and without any spine, ( Jayaram , 1981). Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

8. External caracters Body Colouration - grayish on the dorsal side and silvery on the lateral and ventral side. Fins colour –blackish over all but pectoral, ventral and anal fins have orange tings at the base. Body shape - deeply notched,dorsal profile more convex than that of ventral , stout . Scales – cycloid ,except on mouth and head present through out. Eyes –large , placed in front half of head with three orbital margins. Mouth -wide, upturned with prominent protruding lower jaw. Snout - bluntly rounded. Some pores are visible on the snout. Lips- thick, fringed. Head -large and broad. Length of head ranges from 4.1cms to 4.7cms and height of body from 3cms to 3.5cms in total length. Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

9. Other features Catla is fleshy and noted for its delicacy and valued very high in the market. It is one of the most productive food fish in India. It is one of the fastest growing fish in the country it grows up to 182 cm in total length. Barbells absent. Dorsal fin is long commences slightly in advance of the ventral fin, it is inserted above the tip of pectoral fin with 1-19 rays. Pectoral fin is located slightly behind the ventral fin. Caudal fin is forked. Simple rays non-osseous. Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

10. Fin formula of Catla catla D.18 ,P.19 ; V.9; A.8; C.19; L.I. 40-42; L.tr.7.5-5, (Gupta and Gupta, 2006). Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

11. Breeding Catla attains sexual maturity at an average age of two years and an average weight of 2 kg. Catla breed during the monsoon season in rivers. It responds well to hypophysation. Under captive conditions during the breeding season the dorsal surface of the pectoral fin of the males becomes rough and on applying gentle pressure on the belly milt oozes freely from the genital papilla. Female has a soft, round, bulging belly and a swollen, pinkish genital opening.   Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

12. Other Details:- In India , mostly three different types of ponds are used for carp culture , they are nursery ponds (0.02–0.05 ha, water depth 1.0–1.5 m), rearing ponds (0.05–0.1 ha, water depth 1.5–2.0 m) and stalking pond (0.1–2.0 ha, water depth 2–3 m). To enhance the production of fish food organisms , l iming and fertilization of rearing ponds at regular intervals is essential . Lime is applied at the rate of 250-300 kg/ha in three equal monthly instalments. The first dose is applied one week prior to stocking of fry ( Jhingran 1991). Both organic and inorganic fertilizers can be used. Cattle-dung is used at a rate of 2 500 kg/ha in four equal instalments . The initial dose is applied 14 days prior to stocking of fry . Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

13. Continued…… Inorganic fertilizers like urea (100 kg/ha) or ammonium sulphate (200 kg/ha) and single super phosphate (100 kg/ha) or triple super phosphate are applied at a rate of 35 kg/ha in 3 equal instalments during the rearing period. On second day after stocking the first instalment of inorganic fertilizers is applied and thereafter at monthly intervals, alternating with organic fertilizers (CIFRI, 1985). It is important to avoid fertilization during algal blooms in the pond. The application of Azolla in fish ponds at the rate of 40 tonnes/ha/year fulfils all nutrient requirements for intensive carp culture. Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

14. Catla - Supplemental feeds & feeding Catla is fed supplementary diets using combinations rice bran, various de-oiled seed cakes, fishmeal, etc. Other alternative feeds are mixtures of powdered aquatic insects, prawn and cow peas, fishmeal and groundnut oilcake. Feed is normally spread once a day over the pond in the morning . Once the fish attains the desired characters t is stocked and then sold in the market. Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam

15. THANK YOU Prepared by: Dr Anukriti Nigam