Fish: Labeo rohita (Rohu) | fish | fishing | angler fish | goldfish |

Labeo rohita (Rohu)

Geographical Distribution:

This fish is commonly found in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, China, Kampuchea and Sri Lanka.

Morphological Characters:

Its body is deep and dorsal profile is more concave than abdomen. Snout is obtuse and compressed, projecting beyond the jaws. Lips are thick and fringed with distinct inner fold. Generally one pair of small maxillary barbels is present and sometimes a second rostral pair is present. Lateral line scales are 40-42. Color of the body is bluish or brownish along the back and silvery on the sides and beneath. Usually a red mark is present on each scale.

Feeding:

Rohu is an omnivore fish and usually takes increasing quantities of decayed vegetation matter including higher plants, which might form more than half the bulk of its food. The fry usually feed on unicellular algae and zooplankton.

Breeding:

Its spawning period extends from April to late July. In captivity, it can not be bred except through induced spawning. Pairing occur during the period of spawning. There is external fertilization and no parental care. The spawning temperature is 20-26oC. Fecundity rate is about 100,000 eggs per kilogram body weight.

Prospects in Aquaculture:

It is very popular and considered an excellent food. Due to high demand and price in the market, it is commonly cultured in the province of Punjab along with other species.