Rohu

Quick facts

Adult size

90 cm, 10000 g typical harvest weight

Days to harvest

365 to 540 days from fingerling

Lifespan (max)

up to 10 years

Diet

omnivore

Temperature class

warm-water

Difficulty

beginner

Water parameters

Temperature range

14–32°C (optimum 26°C)

pH

6.5 to 8.5

Hardness

5 to 25 dGH

Minimum tank

2000 L per individual at harvest size

Feed and growth

Feed protein

30% target

Daily feed (warm water)

1.80% of body weight per day

Daily feed (cool water)

0.60% of body weight per day

Max stocking density

40 g per litre of system water

A 10000g adult eats about 180.0 g of feed per day at optimum temperature. For a roster of 10 fish at adult size, that's around 1800 g of feed daily.

Legality

Aquaculture and possession rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. This table reflects regulations as of the verified date on each row. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.

Jurisdictions not listed here default to "check local regulations". A non-listing is not a green light; rules in your specific county or municipality may apply.

Habitat and origin

Native to rivers and floodplain lakes across the Indian subcontinent: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Myanmar, with introduced populations in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. The species (Labeo rohita) is the most commercially important of the three major Indian carps (catla, rohu, mrigal), accounting for the largest share of Indian freshwater aquaculture production. Rohu is a midwater column feeder that consumes phytoplankton, periphyton, and vegetable matter. Adults reach 1 m and up to 20 kg in the wild; culture harvest size is typically 0.5–2 kg at 8-14 months. India and Bangladesh produce several million tonnes of rohu annually, making it one of the most produced freshwater fish species in the world. The flesh is white to pinkish, moderately bony (like all large cyprinids), and is the most preferred carp species in South Asian cuisine.

Climate and outdoor ponds

Climate classification

tropical (needs warm water year-round)

Outdoor pond zones (USDA)

9 to 13 (winter low around -7°C or warmer)

Heating in a temperate climate

Not required (handles seasonal cool periods)

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

The most important warm-water food fish in South Asia, relevant to aquaponics operations across the Indian subcontinent. Temperature range: 18–35°C, optimal at 25–32°C. Growth is fast in warm water: 0.5–1.5 kg in 8-14 months on commercial carp pellet (25-32% protein) or in fertilized ponds with natural algal food. FCR on pellet is 1.5-2.0, efficient for a carp species. In the traditional three-species Indian carp polyculture, rohu occupies the midwater column, feeding on phytoplankton and suspended plant matter, while catla feeds at the surface and mrigal at the bottom. Stocking in polyculture: 40-50% rohu (midwater), 20-30% catla (surface), 20-30% mrigal (bottom). In monoculture or aquaponics, stocking density is 10-25 g/L. Rohu are hardy and disease-resistant under typical conditions, though epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) is a concern in some regions during cool, wet seasons. Fingerlings are abundantly available from government and private hatcheries across India and Bangladesh at very low cost. The species is not commonly cultured outside South Asia and Southeast Asia. For South Asian aquaponics, rohu is the default fish choice: culturally preferred, widely available, fast-growing, and affordable.

Further reading

• Aquaponics water chemistry: balancing pH for fish and plants
• Fish for aquaponics: tilapia vs everything else