Mud carp

Cirrhinus molitorella

Also known as: Mud carplet, Ling (Cantonese), Dace-carp

Plan a system with Mud carp

Quick facts

Adult size: 45 cm, 2000 g typical harvest weight
Days to harvest: 270 to 540 days from fingerling
Lifespan (max): up to 12 years
Diet: omnivore
Temperature class: warm-water
Difficulty: beginner

Water parameters

Temperature range: 15–32°C (optimum 27°C)
pH: 6.5 to 8
Hardness: 3 to 15 dGH
Minimum tank: 800 L per individual at harvest size

Feed and growth

Feed protein: 28% target
Daily feed (warm water): 2.50% of body weight per day
Daily feed (cool water): 1.00% of body weight per day
Max stocking density: 40 g per litre of system water

A 2000g adult eats about 50.0 g of feed per day at optimum temperature. For a roster of 10 fish at adult size, that's around 500 g of feed daily.

Habitat and origin

Native to freshwater rivers and lakes in southern China and Vietnam. The species (Cirrhinus molitorella) is a bottom-feeding cyprinid that consumes detritus, algae, and organic matter from muddy substrates. Adults reach 50–60 cm and 2–4 kg. Mud carp is an important aquaculture species in southern China and Hong Kong, where it's one of the traditional polyculture species alongside grass carp, bighead carp, and silver carp. Annual production in China is substantial. The flesh is white, mild, and relatively bony, consumed steamed or in soups. The common name refers to the fish's habit of feeding in muddy bottom substrates rather than to any muddy flavor in the flesh (when raised in clean water, the taste is clean and mild).

Climate and outdoor ponds

Climate classification: subtropical (tolerates mild cooling)
Outdoor pond zones (USDA): 8 to 13 (winter low around -12°C or warmer)
Heating in a temperate climate: Required for year-round operation
Cooling in a temperate climate: Not required

Zone bounds reflect year-round outdoor pond viability with no active heating. Anywhere outside the bounded zone, the species can still be kept in an indoor heated tank or a seasonally-managed system. Verify your specific microclimate, as a sheltered yard zone can run a half-zone warmer than the regional rating.

Care notes

A warm-water bottom-feeding species for polyculture aquaponics, primarily relevant in southern Chinese and Southeast Asian aquaculture traditions. Temperature range: 18–32°C, optimal at 24–30°C. Growth: 0.5–1.5 kg in 12-18 months on commercial carp pellet (25-30% protein) or in fertilized ponds with natural bottom detritus and periphyton. FCR on pellet is 1.5-2.5. In traditional Chinese polyculture, mud carp fills the bottom-feeding niche similar to mrigal in Indian systems or common carp in European polyculture: it consumes detrital food that other species miss, improving overall system feed efficiency and reducing waste accumulation on the tank or pond floor. Stocking density in monoculture: 10-20 g/L. In polyculture, mud carp are typically stocked at 10-20% of total biomass alongside grass carp (macrophyte feeder), bighead carp (zooplankton filter feeder), and silver carp (phytoplankton filter feeder). Water quality requirements are moderate: DO above 3 mg/L, pH 6.5-8.5, ammonia below 2 mg/L. Mud carp are hardy and disease-resistant in well-managed systems. Fingerlings are available from hatcheries in southern China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam at low cost. The species is not widely known or cultured outside East and Southeast Asia, and market recognition in Western countries is essentially zero. For Western aquaponics operators, common carp or channel catfish serve the same bottom-feeding function with far better local market acceptance.