Crucian carp

The crucian carp prefers still waters, so are not often found in our heavily boated canals. This medium-sized member of the carp family is rare and protected.

Crucian carp can live for up to 10 years.

Crucian carp facts

Scientific name	Carassius carassius
Family	Cyprinidae (carp)
Diet	Plants, insect larvae, shrimp, plankton
Predators	Piscivorous fish like perch, pike, zander, fish eating birds
Length	20cm
Weight	2oz-1lb
British record	4lb 9oz
Lifespan	10 years

Crucian carp and our canals

Crucian carp prefer shallow waters and are found in ponds, slow-flowing rivers and some canals. They’re extremely hardy fish and can tolerate very cold, polluted waters and low oxygen conditions.

Some sources now consider that they were introduced to the UK rather than being native, although other authorities remain unconvinced that this is the case.

How to identify a crucian carp

Crucian carp are hump-backed fish with a deep bronze or golden-coloured body. Unlike the common carp, they have no barbels around the mouth and have a long, convex dorsal fin.

Lifecycle of a crucian carp

Spawning takes place from May when water temperatures reach 14C – or ideally higher at 19-20C. Their growth rate depends on the availability of food. Males tend to mature around three years, with females following a year later.

Where to find crucian carp

The crucian carp’s dislike of boat traffic limits their distribution across our network, but they can be found on lightly boated canals, like the Montgomery Canal. They’re not very effective at competing with other species, like the common carp.

Threats to crucian carp

Crucian carp are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. They’re considered to be threatened as a result of biological invasions and habitat loss.

How to catch a crucian carp

Maggots, casters, chopped worms, sweetcorn and small cubes of luncheon meat are all very good baits for crucian carp.

Carl Nicholls, fisheries & angling manager

Crucian carp like to shoal and can be found in large groups. They are very shy fish and tend not to be greedy feeders, lightly mouthing a bait rather than swallowing it in one go. Therefore, it pays to strike at the very slightest movement of the float. If a bite is left to develop, more often than not, the chance of catching that fish has gone.

Maggots, casters, chopped worms, sweetcorn and small cubes of luncheon meat are all very good baits for crucian carp.