Raising Rohu: A Staple Indian Pond Carp
A guide to farming rohu - a major Indian carp and cornerstone of South Asian pond aquaculture, a hardy, fast-growing feeder ideal for polyculture in warm fertilized ponds.
Rohu is one of the three great Indian major carps and a cornerstone of South Asian pond farming, feeding hundreds of millions. Hardy and fast-growing, it feeds on plankton and detritus in the mid-water and is classically raised in polyculture with catla and mrigal, each using a different zone of the pond. For a warm-climate pond, it is a productive, low-input staple.
Is it right for you?
Rohu suit a warm-climate grower with a pond who wants a hardy, productive staple carp, ideally in polyculture. It is forgiving and low-input where it stays warm.
System & Space
A fertilized warm grow-out pond is the classic system, especially in polyculture with catla (surface) and mrigal (bottom); rohu feed the mid-water column.
Water & Temperature
They are warm-water fish that thrive in fertilized ponds rich in plankton; pond fertility management is the key task, along with avoiding cold and low oxygen.
Stocking & Feeding
Stock fingerlings, often in polyculture, and rely on natural plankton and detritus supplemented with feed; managing pond fertility matters more than heavy feeding.
Health & Care
Hardy and disease-resistant in a well-managed warm pond; the main tasks are pond fertility, water quality and avoiding overcrowding.
Harvest & Enjoying Them
Rohu reach market size in months to a year, giving a popular (if bony) white flesh that is a staple across South Asia.
Getting Started
Set up and fertilize a warm pond, stock fingerlings (ideally with catla and mrigal), and manage pond fertility and water quality.
Common Mistakes
Neglecting pond fertility, cold climates, and monoculture that wastes pond zones are the usual mistakes.
FAQ
What is polyculture? Raising rohu with catla and mrigal, which feed at different depths, to use the whole pond.
Cold climate ok? No - it is a warm-water carp.