Labeo rohita, Hamilton, 1822

Manam, Dr. Vishnu Kiran & Quraishi, Mohammad Asif, 2024, Comprehensive review on Indian major carps: An integrated approach to pond cultivation, nutrition, and health management for sustainable aquaculture, International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 12 (1), pp. 1-12 : 2

Rohu ( Labeo rohita )

Rohu ( Labeo rohita ) is a freshwater fish species belonging to the family Cyprinidae ( Fig 1 ). The most important and extensively cultured carp species in South Asia. It is widely distributed in rivers in ponds and is considered a native of North India, Orissa, and Bengal as well as in the Indian subcontinents [ 19]. The fish is in great demand due to its delicious taste preferred by the people of India and other countries. The monsoon is considered the best for breeding for this fish in rivers and ponds. The Labeo rohita does not breed in stagnant waters and the significant feature of this fish is that it moves with the current of water before breeding and moves against the current of water during breeding in shallow watered ponds [ 20]. The induced methods have been widely practiced in India for breeding and the fish grows large but less when compared to the growth of catla. It takes 12 to 14 months for this fish to become sexually mature and the off spring range from 1.6 to 1.9 lakhs/gram body weight [ 21]. The feeding regime of rohu fingerlings and adults depends on daphnia, decomposed water material, vegetable matter, phytoplankton, and supplementary feeding along with commercial feeds available in the market. Rohu has an elongated and slightly laterally compressed body, which means it is slender and flattened from side to side. The dorsal profile of Rohu is more convex, giving it a slightly arched appearance. The body of Rohu is bluish above and silvery on the flanks. It possesses a reddish tinge at the dorsal, pelvic, anal, and caudal fins with reddish-colored eyes. Juvenile Rohu typically exhibits a dark band at the caudal peduncle, which may fade as they grow older. Rohu has fringed lips, and the maxillary barbells are prominent. Barbells are sensory organs located near the mouth, which help the fish locate food [ 8]. Rohu is extensively distributed in rivers, lakes, and other water bodies throughout India. It occurs in the Ganges, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery River basins, among others. It is commonly found in North India, Orissa, Bengal, and other parts of the country. Rohu is also found in the rivers and water bodies of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar [ 13].

Figures

Fig 1: Indian Major Carps