How long is the lifespan of the black carp, and what is the maximum number of years it can live?

The black carp, also known as the black grass carp, snail-eating carp, etc., inhabits the middle and lower layers, feeds mainly on snails, mussels, shrimp and aquatic insects, reaches sexual maturity at 4-5 years of age, spawns in the upper reaches of rivers, and can be artificially bred. It is a major freshwater fish farming species in China. Let us now take a look at how long the black carp lives!

How long is the lifespan of the black carp?

Generally, the lifespan of the black carp is more than 20 years. At 5 years of age (1 year old is age 1), the black carp becomes an adult, grows very fast every year, and by around 20 years of age it is elderly, and its growth rate slows down.

The growth cycle of the black carp

The black carp grows very fast, reaching 3-5 kg at 2-3 winters of age, with the largest individual reaching 70 kg. Common individuals in the Yangtze River weigh about 15-20 kg. It reaches sexual maturity at 4-5 years of age, breeds from April to July in places with relatively high flow velocity in the main course of rivers, and after reproduction often gathers in river bends and lakes connected to the river to fatten up, and overwinters in deep water in winter.

The longest-lived black carp

Within China, the largest black carp specimen weighed 218 jin. It was captured in 2005 at Jinniu Lake in Luhe District, Nanjing, measuring 1.86 m in length and weighing 218 jin, and was estimated to be about forty years old based on its scales.