Origin
The phytophage (Hypophthalmichtys molitrix) is native to China but has been introduced into the waters around the world for intensive growth (it grows very quickly, worldwide over 1 million tons of phytophage are harvested annually) and especially because of the idea that it is a big consumer of algae and so can control the explosive growth of certain algae.
After the introduction of this fish many countries have reported a negative impact on the environment and are currently struggling to limit the number of phytophages in natural waters (especially in Rivers).
It is also called silver carp (silver carp) or Chinese carp (Chinese carp, due to the country it comes from: china). It is present in at least 88 countries worldwide.
Feeding Phytophage
The Chinese have a regime based on microscopic algae. Its equivalent in the ocean would be the whale, which although impressive in size feeds on organisms tens of times smaller than it.
Being more easily adaptable to the environmental conditions in Romania than its brethren - sangerul - this fish has proliferated both in captivity, in breeders, and in the Danube, where it was the main object of fishing at japca.
Not being very loved by sport fishermen (except Asians), fishing techniques and nads for this fish have not been developed very much. The complete lack of interest in phytophage fishing can also be the least strange way of feeding this fish, sucking phytoplankton, filtering it and then removing water through the gills.
This fish has no stomach, it is considered that it feeds more or less constantly. Because they feed mainly on plankton (the totality of plant and animal organisms, generally microscopic, living in water up to a depth of 200 m and constituting the food of Fish and other aquatic animals), they are successfully introduced into ponds with important role of control and purification of water quality.
However, these methods do not always give positive results. In the water there are some blue-green algae that contain toxins. If they are eaten by fish at their disposal it produces more toxins than they were originally, which damages the quality of the water. These aspects vary from area to area, from pond to pond. Phytophage "puts the muzzle" to Bream, worms, polenta, puffileti and other fishing baits.
Features Phytophage
The phytophage has a relatively smaller head than the blood and a lighter coloration. The bloodsucker, on the other hand, has a large head, and shows, especially after death, that blood coloration that gives it its name. Another common mistake is to consider that an exact differentiation can be made by the color of the scales, by stripes or spots.
We have seen both bleeds and phytophages "impestred" with black and gray; moreover, a fishing logic reminds us that the fish takes over the color of the habitat, there may be, for example, yellow, green, spotted, striped Pike, etc.
The differences between phytophage and novac are very subtle and quite difficult to notice in practice, especially since it was tried and even managed hybridization of the two breeds. These differences consist in the head/body ratio, the number of radii in the dorsal fin, etc.
A woman on a jet-sky ride on the water broke her nose and fractured a rib after coming across a phytophage, almost drowning, and a young man fractured his jaw. Water speed sports are dangerous in puddles with phytophages.
A species similar to the phytophage is the novac. These two fish are confused not only by novice fishermen, but also by many others, due to their similar physical appearance.
Phytophages were introduced to America in the 1970s to control algae growth in certain ponds, but they escaped captivity and multiplied immediately after importation.
Currently widespread in Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri and other tributaries in the U.S., They are also called flying carps because they jump above water when they feel threatened. They can grow up to 40 kg and jump to a height of 3m.
Phytophagous Reproduction
As in most carp spawning usually takes place in May, but can be delayed until June, depending on the evolution of water temperature, which triggers the act of spawning starting with the temperature of 18 degrees C.
Reproduction is portioned and, eggs being laid in 3-4 portions, of which 75% in May and the difference in 2-3 portions in June and July. Eggs not removed for various reasons, resorb.
