Pennant carp - Myxocyprinus asiaticus

The pennant carp (Myxocyprinus asiaticus) with the striking triangular dorsal fin from China is a good acquaintance in the garden pond when young, but can also be handled in an appropriately sized cold-water aquarium. Adult males turn a rich shade of red and form a conspicuous spawning rash at breeding time. The pennant carp is also known as the batfish , bat loach, steepfin sucker carp, threadfin loach, or junker loach. Despite its trivial names, this species of fish does not belong to the loach family, but to the sucker carp.

Pennant carp grow 40 to 60 cm in the pond, in the aquarium rather 30 to 40 cm. They can live up to 25 years. The pond for a group of pennant carp should hold at least 10,000 lit ers, and an aquarium for young batfish should hold at least 1500-2000 liters - preferably with the option for the fish to move to a pond later. The acclimation of banner carp should preferably take place at constant water temperatures between 17-20 °C. The months of May to September are optimal for this.

The wild population is considered endangered, so buy from us in the store only pennant carp from professional breeding. In their habitat pennant carp live in shoals and are found in rivers sympatric with Rasbora species, Danio species and Siamese snout barbs. In a large enough pond, you can keep a group of 5-15 of these beautiful large pond fish.

Pennant carp are peaceful fish that can be very well socialized with koi, for example. They like water temperatures up to a maximum of 24 °C, clean, rather soft water with a low nitrate content. Pennant carp can overwinter well outdoors in Central Europe in a sufficiently deep pond from 1.30 m pond depth. An ice freezer at the water surface ensures that the garden pond does not freeze completely during the cold season, and a pond thermostat can help to make wintering more comfortable for the fish if water temperatures are permanently low.

Pennant carp have an underslung mouth with thick lips, which already indicates their favorite food: they eat mainly algae and growth, although they do not disdain harder algae such as filamentous algae. If they find worms or small crustaceans in the pond mud, these are also eaten with great pleasure. Pennant carp scrape algae from the pond liner and stones in the garden pond all day long.

Pennant carp spend most of their time in the lower areas. Water lilies and marsh plants in the shallow water zone are not eaten, pond plants with soft foliage are definitely nibbled. Especially in spring, during the first main algae phase, Pennant Carp show their strength - as food specialists they reliably take care of algae and are thus considered cleaners in the garden pond. Not much is known about breeding in the garden pond in this country.

Pennant carp are rather difficult to get used to pond fish food. If you have to feed, you should therefore definitely choose a fish food rich in algae such as spirulina. Bunting carp may also be able to become accustomed to koi food or bottom tablets.

Pond oxydators, water features or outflow stones provide a better oxygen supply in the pond. An adequately sized filter should be installed on the garden pond with bunting to keep the pond water clean. Check the water at regular intervals with appropriate water tests, keeping an eye on the nitrate value in particular.

The fish are 8-12 cm in size.

Size: 8-12 cm
Minimum order quantity: 1 fish